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.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to paperboard packages, boxes, or cartons, and in particular to a paperboard blank and a carton comprising a wave-shaped panel opposite a squared panel made from the blank.

BACKGROUND

Cartons having one or more curved panels are found in retail packaging and in the patent literature. Most of these cartons comprise one or more panels that are fully concave or convex. Such cartons are commonly seen in food and sporting goods packaging. Curved panel cartons may have functional attributes simply by having an overall shape that accommodates the shape of the contents therein. Other cartons with curved panels may have ornamental attributes yet still require imaginative design of a single die-cut blank that can be easily erected to form the ornamental carton.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,078,989 (Curran, et al.) claims a carton with a contour design erected from a single die-cut blank. The blank comprises a top panel with bifurcated end flaps that can arcuately bend inwardly. The result when erected is a carton with a concave top and convex ends.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,868 (Pantalone) claims a carton similar to the Curran carton ('989) except that the carton also comprises curved front panel display windows. When erected, the carton comprises a concave front panel that includes the display openings, convex side panels, and a flat rear wall panel.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,735 (Cucuo) claims a carton for merchandizing a sports ball, e.g. a soccer or basketball. The carton comprises two opposing convex side walls with the distance between them about the same as the diameter of the ball to be merchandized. The other two opposing side walls are concave and contain centrally located openings of elliptical configuration through which the ball can project. The blank that can be erected to make this carton comprises front, rear, and side panels having at least one arched cut or fold line. In that way, two opposing panels have a round shape with flat top and bottom whereas the other two opposing panels have an hourglass shape.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,323 (Webinger) claims a carton having a tapered and sculptured appearance made possible by erecting a blank that has a combination of rectangular panels and panels with one arched cut or fold line.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,147 (Ljungstrom, et al.) claims a gable top carton with curved side creases. Such a carton may be constructed from a blank that has curved score lines dividing one or more side panels from the top gabled structure. The curved side crease allows clearance when reaching under the gable to push open the fin flaps, which is important for very small gabled cartons in the food industry.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,665,653 (Fitzwater) claims a twisted carton made possible by incorporating a plurality of panel strips defined by oblique fold lines extending along the height of the carton. When the blank is erected, these panel strips provide the carton with a twisted shape.

Cartons having more intricately curved panels instead of just concave or convex panels are scarcely seen. This is presumably because of the difficulty in devising a single die-cut blank that can be erected and glued to create a carton comprised of intricately curved panels. The balance between aesthetics and the ease in erecting the carton has not been achieved for all conceivable types of packaging designs, in spite of decades of innovation in this area of packaging. Cartons with curved panels may be required to mechanically protect and merchandize a product that has a particular shape, and to convey that product shape to consumers who view only the exterior of the carton at retail. Therefore, there is a continual need to design new cartons having shapes that are both functional and aesthetically appealing, and to devise imaginative designs for a single blank that may be used to easily erect such a newly shaped carton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and novel carton comprising opposing wave-shaped panel and squared panel, and in particular comprising a wave-shaped front panel, a squared back panel, and opposing side panels, each bound by three contiguous straight cut edges and one wave-shaped fold line, and wherein either of the opposing side panels may be superimposed onto the other by a 180° rotation around a central axis.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a carton with wave-shaped front panel and squared back panel is erected from a blank comprising in combination: (1) a front panel joined to a substantially rectangular top panel and to a substantially rectangular bottom panel by straight fold lines, and foldably joined to a first set of side panels by wave-shaped fold lines that are, or resemble, single sine waves; and, (2) a rear panel foldably joined to a bottom panel and to a second set of opposing side panels by straight fold lines, and having a straight cut edge that forms an uppermost edge of a substantially square or rectangular opening in the top of the erected carton.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a new and novel carton comprises a wave-shaped front panel, a squared back panel, and two sets of overlapping opposing side panels, and a cup-shaped lid, where the lid is in hinging arrangement to the front panel such that the carton lid opens forward toward the consumer.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a new and novel carton comprises a wave-shaped front panel, a squared back panel, and two sets of overlapping opposing side panels, and a four (4) flap cereal box closure arrangement at the top of the carton.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a blank from which a carton of the present invention may be formed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a blank from which a carton of the present invention may be formed.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a carton of the present invention in the fully erected condition, with the optional flip-open lid shown in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a carton of the present invention in the fully erected condition, with the optional flip-lid shown in the closed position.

FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a carton of the present invention in the fully erected condition, with the optional flip-open lid shown in the closed position.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a carton of the present invention in the fully erected condition, with the optional top forward and rearward panels and glue flaps that comprise a top closure shown in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description is of exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, the present carton may close at the top by a conventional arrangement of four glue flaps, such as found on most cereal boxes, rather than a closure comprising a hinging lid. Additionally, though described herein in general terms of a carton assembled from a single blank, additional cardboard, paperboard or corrugate board inserts or layers such as dividers or strengtheners may be envisioned in or on the present carton. Most importantly, the present carton is not limited to any particular size. It may be very small, e.g. even smaller than a cigarette package, to merchandise small items for sale at a checkout isle, or it may be huge, such as to merchandise very large items for sale. Ideally, the cartons of the present invention may be from about 5-6 inches in width, from about 1-4 inches in depth, and from about 6-10 inches in height. The dimensions may be adjusted to accommodate various size products and/or influence the perception on a store shelf.

A “carton” (or a “box”) herein refers to a paperboard or cardboard container having, in combination, (and distinguishable), a top, a bottom, left and right sides, a front, and a rear that collectively enclose and protect an interior space that is usable for packing, storing, shipping, and/or merchandizing a particular product. For the carton disclosed herein, and for most cartons in general, the bottom is recognized as the side of the carton that is logically placed on a surface when the carton is to remain stationary (e.g. by paying attention to “this end up” or other printed information, or logically oriented the carton to place the opening at the top, and/or because of the dimensions/balance of the carton), and the top side to the carton is the location of an opening/access to the carton. For purposes of the present invention, the opening to the carton may be resealable/reclosable or the top of the carton may simply rip open to irreversibly provide access to the interior space of the carton.

A carton for purposes herein will have six discernable “sides” (front, left, right, top, bottom, rear) and will be box-like or cuboid in overall shape, in spite of some curved panel edges. The spatial orientation used herein is such that the “front” of the fully erected carton refers to that panel of the carton that has a substantially “wave-shaped” appearance. The “bottom” of the present carton refers to the panel that will be in contact with some stationary surface for most of the life of the carton, such as when the carton sits on a store shelf or on a shelf in a consumer's home. Correspondingly, the “top” of the present carton refers to the uppermost panel of the carton when the carton is standing upright with the bottom on a horizontal stationary surface, and is the panel of the carton where an access to the interior of the carton exists. “Rear” and “back” are terms that may be used interchangeably to refer to that panel of the box opposite the front panel and not visible when the carton is viewed at the front plan. When viewing the front plan of the erected carton (i.e. viewing the carton face-on), the side to the right is herein designated the “right side panel” and the side to the left is herein designated the “left side panel.” “Panel” and “flap” are meant interchangeably as primarily flat, rigid, structural elements that are mutually contiguous and that collectively form the overall cuboid structure of the carton when the carton is erected, although where possible, panel refers to a larger and substantially visible portion of the carton and flap (or “glue flap”) to a smaller functional portion such as a narrow glue flap that will likely not be visible from the exterior of the carton once erected. Any side to the erected carton (e.g. “top”, “left side”, “right side”, “front,” “rear,” or “bottom”) may be comprised of multiple separate panels and/or flaps, (i.e. any side to the present erected carton may be comprised of overlapping layers of panels for added strength and/or ease in gluing). For example, two longer panels and two shorter end flaps may be folded up and glued or stapled to one another to create the “top” or “bottom” of an erected box. Likewise, sets of side panels may be overlapped to partial or even full extent and glued to form double-thickness sides to a carton.

The nature of the product that may be contained within the carton of the present invention is immaterial to the scope of the present invention, although it is preferred that the present carton be used to contain a stack of flat, wave-shaped articles such as the laundry sheets having the ornamental design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D623422 (Williams, et al.) incorporated herein by reference. In this way, the carton of the present invention, with its wave-shaped front, projects the shape of the contents within to consumers who may only see the exterior of the carton on the store shelf and not appreciate the shape of the product inside.

The term “blank” used herein is a term of art in the packaging industry that refers to a flat board/sheet that is cut to a pattern that may be erected into a carton structure. A “blank” may be a flat piece of corrugated board that has various cut lines and fold lines such that a machine (called a conversion machine or a carton erector) can build it into a 3-dimensional carton. Such blanks may also be cut with perforated lines that may outline locations where the erected box can be opened at a future time. Perforated lines may allow removal of a flap, the opening of a handle or grasping aperture, or may define a tear strip to open a sealed carton. Alternatively, perforations may outline entire sections of a box intended to be fully removed at some point, and may even run the length of the blank (and hence, circumscribe the entire erected box) so that the entire box can be separated into portions along that perforated line. Perforations in general allow for the ripping, tearing or breaking of the corrugated or paper board along the line that is comprised of perforations. Perforations may be small notches, small cuts, or holes, or combinations thereof, and may be pierced or cut through one side or both sides of the corrugated board. For example, a perforated line that may be torn may comprise a series of small linear cuts lined up end to end with a particular spacing between the cuts.

Blanks represent a convenient and collapsed form of a box that may be stacked, bundled and shipped to the manufacturer of the product that is to be placed therein for storing, shipping and merchandising. A die-cut machine cuts card or paperboard or corrugated board into a blank that has a pattern such that the manufacturer can fold it up and glue it into the box shape, readying it for filling with product. Such processes and machines used for cutting, scoring and perforating card, paperboard and corrugate board into intricate blanks for box construction is amply disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,195,819 (Kurtzeborn); 2,313,801 (Corll); 2,390,072 (Beaton); 2,821,871 (Sarno); 2,860,555 (Williamson); 2,939,358 (Pearson); 3,020,809 (Guyer); 3,142,233 (Downie); 3,170,342 (Downie); 3,292,513 (Palmer); 3,485,146 (Sarka); 3,786,732 (Forbes); 3,869,949 (Dolle); 3,929,059 (Gendro); 3,982,458 (Terasake); 5,140,872 (Holliday); and, 6,203,482 (Sandford), each of which are incorporated herein in their entireties.

In regards to the materials of construction, the carton of the present invention may be constructed of various paperboard, cardboard, corrugated board, sheet metal, or wood paneling, or combinations of these materials, with relatively thin paperboard or cardboard being preferred over corrugate. The blanks that will be described below are preferably manufactured from white cardboard. Corrugated board may be constructed by sandwiching and gluing fluted corrugating medium between layers of white, mottled-white or brown paper liner or paperboard. The choice of white, mottled-white, or brown paper for the corrugated board depends on what the carton is to be used for. The present carton may be constructed of post-consumer waste/recycled materials or new materials as desired, with varying thicknesses depending on cost, desired weight and strength, balanced with environmental responsibility.

Affixation refers to the attachment of flaps and panels to one another for the purpose of erecting a flat blank into a final carton. Affixation and “gluing” are used interchangeably herein, but it must be understood that throughout the packaging industry cartons may be secured in their erected shape by glue, staples, or tape, or combinations thereof. In this regard, where “glue” or “gluing” is stated herein, other substitute/additional means of affixing flaps and panels to one another, (such as stapling and taping), is within the scope of the invention. Likewise a “glue flap” may be secured to another panel by staples or tape rather than glue.

Lastly, the present carton is distinguished from the prior art cartons in that it comprises opposing “wave-shaped” and “squared” panels. “Wave-shaped” for purposes herein, refers to a substantially flat panel circumscribed/bounded by a total of four edges, where the four edges comprise alternating curved and straight edges (two opposing straight edges and two opposing curved edges in alternating arrangement), and where each of the two opposing curved edges have a pattern that approximates a single sine wave. For a definition of “wave-shaped” herein, the two opposing curved edges, each approximating a sine wave, curve in parallel to one another (i.e., the curves are not mirror images of one another and may even be identical, superimposable curves), and the remaining two opposing edges of wave-shaped are flat/straight. As examples of “wave-shaped,” reference is again made to the ornamental design of a wave-shaped laundry sheet, U.S. Pat. No. D623422 (Williams, et al.) referenced above, and also to an ornamental design for a wave-shaped scouring sponge disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. D556966 (Herbrand, et al.), incorporated herein by reference, regardless if these inventors refer to their ornamental designs as wave-shaped, these designs are wave-shaped in accordance with the definition being set forth herein for purposes of the present invention. Both the Williams sheet for laundry use and the Herbrand sponge reflect what is meant herein by “wave-shaped,” and aid in defining this term for the present invention. That is, in each of these ornamental designs, a substantially flat surface is outlined by four edges, two opposing straight/flat edges and two opposing curved edges, wherein the two curved edges each have a wave pattern approximating, or identical to, a single sine wave, and where the two opposing curved edges curve in parallel to one another, making them either substantially similar to one another or even identical and superimposable.

In the carton of the present invention, the front of the carton comprises the wave-shaped panel, and therefore the opposing squared panel must be the back/rear of the carton. This assignment is not entirely arbitrary because it is desirable to direct the wave-shaped panel toward the front of a retail store shelf and at the consumer, in order to convey the shape of the product contained therein to the consumer. The wave-shaped front of the carton may convey branding or trade-dress to a consumer and therefore it is important to position this panel so it directly faces the consumer. The squared back of the carton simplifies erecting and gluing of the carton and it will be orientated out of view on the store shelf. However, if the present carton were entirely devoid of any branding or other labeling whatsoever, and/or devoid of any significance as to trade-dress, then the assignment of the wave-shaped panel as the front of the carton and the opposing squared panel as the rear of the carton may be more arbitrary than functional.

For a carton to comprise a “wave-shaped front,” the carton necessarily has a substantially flat wave-shaped front panel, where “wave-shape” is defined above. In orientating the wave-shaped front panel, one of the straight edges of the wave-shaped panel becomes a top edge of the front of the carton, and the other opposing straight edge becomes a bottom edge of the front of the carton. Likewise, the opposing curved edges of the wave-shaped front panel become the right and left edges of the front of the carton. A sine wave by definition has both amplitude and wavelength. For discussion purposes herein, each of the curved front side edges of the present carton approximate a single sine wave, meaning that the wavelength of the single sine wave is precisely the height of the carton. That is, each curved edge approximates a single wave. The amplitude of the sine wave defines the side-to-side undulation in the look of the front of the carton. However, it must be stressed that the present carton comprises a front panel having left and right side edges that each only need to approximate a single sine wave. By only approximating, the scope of the present invention includes the possibility that the two half waves of either of the single sine waves do not possess identical amplitude, and the independent possibility that each half wave may not be truly half the wavelength of the single wave. That is, the half wave point (where a sine wave by definition has zero amplitude) does not have to fall precisely at half the height of the present carton. In order to measure amplitude in the curved edges of the present carton, an imaginary straight line is drawn thought the approximate sine wave edge such that two corners of the carton are connected. For example, in the present carton the front panel necessarily has foldable edge to the left of the front panel that approximates a sine wave. In order to describe the dimensions of the wave-shaped fold line, an imaginary straight line is drawn from the bottom left corner of the front panel of the carton up to the upper left corner of the carton. This line represents what would be the fold line if the fold line were perfectly straight rather than wave-shaped. Now with reference to the imaginary line, the single wave can be described by the amplitude of each of the half-wave segments of the single wave, one amplitude being the distance from the imaginary straight line to the point of maximum curvature of the half-wave segment to the right of the straight line, and the distance from the imaginary straight line to the point of maximum curvature of the other half-wave segment to the left of the straight line. Of course, if that wave-shaped fold line is a true sine wave, then the undulation to the left and to the right, the half-wave amplitudes, will be identical.

A “squared” panel refers to a substantially flat panel circumscribed by four straight line edges, where each edge forms a right angle to its two adjacent edges. As such, a “squared” panel must be either square or rectangular. It is important to note that in the scope of the present invention, “squared rear panel” includes the possibility of a rectangular panel.

That being said, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a carton with an opposing wave-shaped panel and squared panel, and more particularly a wave-shaped front panel and squared back panel, erected from a blank comprising in combination: (1) a front panel foldably joined to a substantially rectangular top panel and to a substantially rectangular bottom panel by straight fold lines, and foldably joined to a first set of opposing side panels by wave-shaped fold lines; and, (2) a rear panel foldably joined to a bottom panel and to a second set of opposing side panels by straight fold lines, and having a straight cut edge that forms an uppermost edge of an opening in the top of the erected carton.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a new and novel carton comprises a wave-shaped front panel, a squared back panel, two opposing side panels, and a cup-shaped lid, where the lid is in hinging arrangement with the front panel by virtue of a foldable connection between the front panel and a top panel of the cup-shaped lid, such that the carton lid opens forward toward the consumer facing the front of the carton.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a new and novel carton comprises a single thickness wave-shaped front, a single thickness squared back, and double-thickness opposing sides, where each double-thickness side is formed by the complete overlap of two identically shaped sets of opposing side panels.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the top closure of the carton comprising wave-shaped front panel and squared rear panel comprises a four (4) flap/panel cereal box top arrangement for closing off the top of the carton.

These general comments and preferred embodiments are more easily understood through a discussion of the drawing figures and the numbered elements therein.

Referring first to FIG. 3, the completely erected carton 1 of the present invention comprises: wave-shaped front panel 10; squared back panel 3; optional cup-shaped flip lid 2; and, an opening at the top of the carton with rectangular dimension defined by the front panel top edge 11, the overlapped left side panel top edges 6/56, the rear panel top edge 54, and the overlapped right side panel top edges 15/61. The overlapping edges 6/56 and 15/61 are the result of completely overlapping the side panels present on the carton blank that formed the carton, resulting in double-thickness for the left- and right-sides of the carton, (explained below). The optional cup-shaped lid 2 is similar to flip-open carton lids found in cigarette packaging, for example as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 7,845,491 (Pollonia, et al.), incorporated by reference in its entirety. As shown in FIG. 3, the cup-shaped lid 2 of the present carton, if utilized, is preferably hinged to the front panel 10 of the carton through straight fold line 11 that by nature of its folding also provides a hinge. Absent a flip-lid, the opening at the top of the present carton may be closable by a series of flaps e.g. found on a cereal box, or with a fold over top panel that tucks either behind the rear panel or around and into a slit in the back panel. Exemplary alternative carton closure designs are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,809,777 (Davidson) and 1,152,355 (Sutton), each incorporated herein by reference. Also visible in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 is one of a pair of opposing side panels, the first right-side panel 14. The first right-side panel 14 is seen to be outlined by a single wave-shaped edge at the front of the carton and three straight edges at the top, rear, and bottom of the carton.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the carton 1 is shown with optional flip-lid 2 in the closed configuration. The carton 1 comprises a wave-shaped front panel 10, an optional flip-lid 2 (shown closed), and a first right-side panel 14 that shares a wave-shaped fold line 12 with the front panel 10. The optional flip-lid 2 comprises top panel 24 (the top panel of the carton), and a right-side glue flap 27 that overlaps, and that may be glued to, right-side panel 14.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the carton 1 is shown with optional flip-lid 2 in the closed configuration. The carton 1 comprises a squared back panel 50 and left-side panel 5. The optional flip-lid 2 comprises a rear glue flap 35 that may be glued to the rear panel 50, a top panel 24, and a left-side glue flap 20. The particular embodiment of the rear glue flap 35 depicted comprises an arched lower edge 36 although this flap could just as well comprise a straight edge or any other shape for the cut bottom edge instead of an arch, (straight, zigzag, sine wave, or any other shape that may draw attention to the fact that the carton is opened by prying up this flap 35).

FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a blank 4 which forms a carton 1 in accordance with the present invention. Blank 4 has an outer surface that is seen in this plan view that may be preprinted with product branding or other identifying and promotional information, and an inner surface underneath that is not visible in this plan view. The blank 4 comprises fifteen (15) distinguishable and contiguous panels and flaps (elements 30, 35, 37, 20, 24, 27, 5, 10, 14, 65, 70, 75, 55, 50, and 60), each having at least one fold line across which each panel can be bent to an angle of approximately 90° from the adjacent panel. Fold lines are identified in FIG. 1 by thin solid lines whereas die-cut lines (the entire outline of the die-cut blank and including where the panels are physically cut from each other where necessary) are identified by heavy solid lines. The blank 4 comprises a squared rear panel 50 that, per the definition set forth above, is either square or rectangular in shape. Rear panel 50 is bounded by one die-cut line and three fold lines. The single straight cut edge 54 of rear panel 50 becomes the rear upper edge of the rectangular or square top opening in one embodiment of the erected carton (best seen in FIG. 3). Rear panel 50 is foldably connected to second left-side panel 55 through straight fold line 51, and similarly, rear panel 50 is foldably connected to second right-side panel 60 through straight fold line 53. As will become clearer below, a “first” and “second” designation is used for the sets of side panels (in addition to right and left designation) because there are two sets of side panels (one set attached to the front panel and another set attached to the rear panel) that will overlap in the finished carton. Still referring to FIG. 1, second left-side panel 55 and second right-side panel 60 each comprise three die-cut edges, one of which is wave-shaped and three of which are straight. Second left-side panel 55 is bounded by cut edge 58, which becomes a left upper edge of the rectangular/square open top of the erected carton (best seen in FIG. 3), straight cut edge 56, and a wave-shaped cut edge 57. Wave-shaped cut edge 57 approximates one sine wave, wherein each “half wave” is designated as curve 57a and curve 57b. To disclose the shape of this wave, an imaginary straight line is drawn through the curve from the corner of panel 55 defined by the point where die-cut curve 57 and die-cut edge 58 meet, up to the corner of panel 55 where die-cut curve 57 and die-cut edge 56 meet. This imaginary line would be (and may be in another viable embodiment) a die-cut straight edge to panel 55 if that were so desired. Distances are then indicated from this imaginary line to the furthest points of the curves (the point of each wave that is closest to the rear panel 50 and furthest from the rear panel 50). A sine wave by mathematical definition has both amplitude and wavelength, and so herein per a mathematical sine wave, distance “g” and distance “i” represent the amplitude of the sine wave approximated by the wave 57, and the wavelength of that sine wave is the height of the carton (i.e., the length of line 51 or 53). As discussed above, this wave-shaped curve 57 (or any of the other wave-shaped fold lines or die-cut lines in the present invention) need only approximate a single sine wave. With that in mind, distance “g” does not necessarily need to be identical to distance “i”, as would be the case if curve 57 is a mathematically precise single sine wave. Similarly, the midpoint “k” of panel 55 (determined by bisecting straight line 51 or 53 in half and following that midpoint along an imaginary line running parallel with straight cut edge 58 until it crosses curve 57) does not need to precisely line up with the half-wave point of the sine wave curve (i.e., where the amplitude “g” and “i” of the sine wave are zero). All that said, the curved line 57 shown in FIG. 1 may approximate a sine wave or it may be precisely a sine wave where “g”=“i” and where the half height of the carton point “k” falls at the half-wave (zero amplitude) point of the sine wave. As will be explained below, regardless if curve 57 is a true sine wave or only a close approximation thereof, it is preferred that all four of the wave-shaped fold and cut lines (57, 9, 12, and 62) are identical, or at least that adjacent sets be identical and in inverted relationship (as to amplitude of the half-wave segments) with the other set of adjacent waves. It is preferred that the wavelength of the single sine wave curves (i.e. the height of the carton, which is the length of lines 51 or 53 in FIG. 1) be from about 6 to about 10 inches, and most preferred that this height be from about 7 to about 8 inches. With this preferred carton height, the amplitudes of each half wave, (i.e. the measured distances “g” and “i”), may be from about 1/16 inch to about ½ inch. Less than about 1/16 inch eave undulation for a wave-shaped carton with height around 7 inches probably won't result in much of a visible wave shape to the front of the carton. It is also expected that if the wave is too great in undulation, e.g. the half-wave amplitudes are greater than ¾ inch or so, the front and side panels may have to “pucker” to such an extent that one or more of these panels may crease rather than just bow.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the blank 4 further comprises a second right-side panel 60 foldably connected to rear panel 50 by straight fold line 53. Second right-side panel 60 is bounded by two die-cut straight edges 61 and 63, one wave-shaped die-cut edge 62, and one straight fold line 53 that foldably connects panels 50 and 60. Second right-side panel 60 is bounded in part by cut edge 63, an edge that becomes a right upper edge of the rectangular/square open top of one embodiment of the erected carton (best seen in FIG. 3). Similar to cut edge 57, wave-shaped cut edge 62 approximates one sine wave, wherein each “half wave” is designated as curve 62a and curve 62b. The curved die-cut edge 62 is preferably substantially similar to die-cut wave-shaped curve 57, and it is most preferred that these curves are identical in all respects such that may be superimposed. A sine wave has both amplitude and wavelength as discussed above, and so herein per a sine wave, distance “h” and distance “j” represent the amplitude of the sine wave approximation of curve 62, and the wavelength of that sine wave is the height of the carton (i.e., the length of line 53 or 51). Similar to 57, and keeping in line with the relative dimensions depicted in the blank 4 in FIG. 1, the amplitudes “h” and “j” are preferably from about 1/16 inch to about ½ inch when the height of the carton (i.e. the length of fold line 53) is from about 6 to about 10 inches. The distances “h” and “j” are measured from an imaginary line running between two corners of panel 60, the corner where edge 61 meets edge 62 and the corner where edge 62 meets edge 63, to positions on each half-wave segment 62a and 62b farthest from rear panel 50 (distance “h”) and closest to rear panel 50 (distance “j”), as shown in the drawing figure. As discussed above, this wave-shaped curve 62 (or any of the other wave-shaped die-cut or fold lines in the present invention) need only approximate a single sine wave. With that in mind, distance “h” does not necessarily need to be identical to distance “j”, as would be the case if curve 62 is a mathematically precise single sine wave. Similarly, the midpoint “1” of panel 60 (determined by bisecting straight line 53 or 51 in half and following that midpoint along an imaginary line running parallel with straight cut edge 63 until it crosses curve 62) does not need to precisely line up with the half-wave point of the sine wave curve (i.e., where the amplitude “h” and “j” of the sine wave are zero). All that said, the curved line 62 shown in FIG. 1 may approximate a sine wave or it may be precisely a mathematical sine wave with “h”=“j” and “l” falling at the half-wave (zero amplitude) point of the wave. It is more preferred that curves 62 and 57 be substantially similar in shape. Most preferred, and regardless if curves 62 and 57 are true sine waves or only close approximations thereof, it is preferred that wave-shaped cut edges 57 and 62 are identical.

Still referring to FIG. 1, it is less preferred, (although still within the scope of the present invention), that the panels 55 and 60 comprise only narrow rectangular or square glue flaps, rather than wider panels each comprising an exterior die-cut wave-shaped edge. This embodiment is anticipated, because when the present carton is fully erected and glued, it is preferred that vertical exposed edges 7 and 16 end up at the back of the carton, out of sight when the carton is on a retail store shelf. Since the front of the carton has been identified as panel 10, (with the wave-shaped panel carrying the branding/trade logos/trade-dress and aimed directly at the consumer to communicate the wave-shaped product therein), folding second left-side panel 55 behind first left-side panel 5, and similarly folding second right-side panel 60 behind first right-side panel 14, places the visible and viewable cut edges 7 and 16 at the rear of the finished carton, rather than the alternate configuration of placing die-cut wave-shaped edges 57 and 62 visibly exposed at the front of the carton where the consumer will see them. With that in mind, there is no reason that the second set of side panels 55 and 60 need to be as wide as to fully overlap with their first counterpart set of panels 5 and 14, other than for added strength in the finished carton. However, it is preferred that they do overlap completely and that the sets of side panels 5, 14, 55, and 60 be relatively similar in size to maximize the strength of the erected carton.

Still referring to the embodiment of the carton blank 4 illustrated in FIG. 1, rear panel 50 is also foldably connected to a rectangular or square shaped bottom panel 70 by straight fold line 52. Straight fold line 52 is also herein referred to as the rear bottom fold line when describing the fully erected carton. Bottom panel 70 is also foldably connected to left bottom glue flap 65 by straight fold line 67 and to right bottom glue flap 75 by straight fold line 71. When the carton is folded, erected and glued, the outer surface of left bottom glue flap 65 may be glued to the inner surface of panel 5 or to the inner surface of panel 55. In other words, glue flap 65 may be sandwiched in between panels 5 and 55 when the carton is erected, in which case the outer surface of glue flap 65 is glued to the inner surface of panel 5. Alternatively, the outer surface of panel 55 may be first glued to the inner surface of panel 5, and then the outer surface of glue flap 65 may be glued to the inner surface of panel 55. There is an advantage to the former configuration over the latter. Sandwiching the small glue flap 65 between the panels 5 and 55 removes it from interfering with the loading of product into the completed carton, and from interfering with the consumer moving product in and out of the packaging (e.g. taking more product out than needed and trying to fit some product back in). Also, it is simpler to erect the carton in the former sequence. Therefore, it is preferred that the left bottom glue flap 65 end up sandwiched in between the first left-side panel 5 and the second left-side panel 55 in the fully erected carton.

The right bottom glue flap 75 may be described in the same way as the left bottom glue flap 65, and flap 75 may be of similar or identical shape as flap 65, but need not be even close to the same shape. Glue flap 75 is foldably attached to bottom panel 70 by the straight fold line 71. The shape and size of these glue flaps 65 and 71 are not critical since they only need to be shaped and sized such that they can be secured to the side panels as discussed (e.g. providing sufficient surface areas for gluing). However, each glue flap needs to have substantially the same width as the bottom panel 70 and need to be tapered slightly to facilitate folding of the blank and ability to overlap with the side panels. Being sized and shaped as indicated by the relative dimensions shown in FIG. 1 is appropriate for their folding and gluing to the side panels.

Continuing further with FIG. 1, the blank 4 also comprises wave-shaped front panel 10 foldably connected to bottom panel 70 by straight fold line 13. Straight fold line 13 is also herein referred to as the front bottom fold line when describing the erected carton. Front panel 10 is also foldably connected to top panel 24 by straight fold line 11. Also and most importantly, front panel 10 is foldably connected to first left-side panel 5 through a wave-shaped fold line 9 (also referred to herein as a first wave-shaped fold line when describing the erected carton), and is foldably connected to a first right-side panel 14 by wave-shaped fold line 12 (also referred to herein as a second wave-shaped fold line when describing the erected carton). As discussed above, wave-shaped fold lines 9 and 12 are preferably substantially similar, and that the wave-shaped die-cut edges 57 and 60 are substantially similar, and it is most preferred that all four of the wave-shaped fold and die-cut lines be identical, superimposable mathematical sine waves. This embodiment is preferred because as mentioned above, it is most desirable to fully overlap the first set of side panels 5 and 14 with their similarly dimensioned second set counterparts 55 and 60 such that curves 9 and 57 come close to registration (i.e. dovetailing) with one another, and such that curves 12 and 62 also come close to registration, in order to achieve maximum strength in the fully erected carton. For full overlap, the first set of side panels need to be identical, or at least close, in shape and size to the second set of side panels. As with all the wave-shaped fold lines or die-cut lines in the present invention, wave-shaped fold lines 9 and 12 should approximate a single full sine wave each. That being said, amplitude “a” of half-wave segment 9a may be similar or identical to amplitude “c” of half-wave segment 9b. Likewise, amplitude “b” of half-wave segment 12a may be close to or identical to the amplitude “d” of half-wave segment 12b. Also, as discussed above for the second set of side panels, midpoint “e,” struck at half the height of the carton, (i.e., a point where straight edge 7 is bisected), may or may not represent the half-wave point of the wave-shaped curve 9, and likewise, midpoint “f,” struck at half the height of the carton, (i.e., a point that bisects straight edge 16), may or may not represent the precise half-wave point of the wave-shaped curve 12. Most preferred, for both ease in folding up the carton blank and to avoid errant wrinkles in the finished carton, wave-shaped fold line 9 should be identical in shape and dimension to wave-shaped fold line 12. That is, it is most preferred that fold line 9 and fold line 12 be superimposable. If the four (4) wave-shaped fold and die-cut lines 9, 12, 57, and 62 of the carton are not all perfect single sine waves and all superimposable, then it is important not only that wave-shaped fold line 9 be identical to wave-shaped fold line 12, and that 57 be identical to 62, but also that half-wave segment 9a be identical in shape and amplitude to half-wave segment 57b, half-wave segment 9b be identical in shape and amplitude to half-wave segment 57a, half-wave segment 12a be identical in shape and amplitude to half-wave segment 62b, and half-wave segment 12b be identical to half-wave segment 62a. All of these conditions are necessary for the complete overlap of the corresponding sets of side panels to be successful and for the curved die-cut edges to dovetail in the curved fold lines, as explained above. It is important to note that the set of wave-shaped die-cut edges 57 and 62 on the second set of side panels dovetail into the wave-shaped fold lines 9 and 12 present on the first set of side panels when the second set of curves is inverted, which is precisely what happens when the rear panel 50 is folded up behind the front panel 10 by folding 90° bends into fold lines 52 and 13 in the process of erecting the carton from the blank. Since panel 10 has been established to be the front panel of the carton, it is important that wave-shaped fold lines 9 and 12 be substantially similar, if not identical, because they set out the look of the front of the carton for the consumer. As mentioned, the preferred height of the carton (which is the distance between the parallel straight fold lines 11 and 13 in the carton blank) is from about 6 to about 10 inches. Also with that preferred height established, the undulations in the waves on the front panel, (i.e. the distances “a”, “b”, “c”, and “d”) are from about 1/16 inch to about ½ inch.

Continuing with the blank 4 depicted in FIG. 1, the blank 4 further comprises a top panel 24 foldably connected to front panel 10 by straight fold line 11. Top panel 24 is also foldably connected to left side glue flap 20 by straight fold line 23 and to right side glue flap 27 by straight fold line 26. Top panel 24 is also foldably connected to rear glue flap 35 by straight fold line 25. As mentioned, this particular embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a carton blank 4 that, when erected, forms a carton having a front hinging flip down lid. Fold line 11 is that hinge for the hinging cup-shaped lid and is referred to herein as the lid hinging line when describing the erected carton. Rear glue flap 35 is foldably connected to left lid glue flap 30 by straight fold line 34 and is foldably connected to right lid glue flap 37 by straight fold line 39. In this way, top panel 24 and each of the five glue flaps 20, 27, 30, 35, and 37, together comprise the cup-shaped hinging lid.

Referring now to each of the drawing FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5 together for clarity, it should be appreciated that both the left side glue flap 20 and the right side glue flap 27 remain exposed on portions of the exterior of the carton when the carton is fully erected and glued. For example, exposed right side glue flap 27 is seen flush and against an upper portion of right side panel 14 in FIG. 4, (a front view of the carton), and exposed left side glue flap 20 is seen flush and against an upper portion of side panel 5 in FIG. 5, (a rear view of the carton). Also when the lid is closed, the rear glue flap 35 is against the rear panel 50 as seen in FIG. 5. All that is minimally required in the present carton is that one of the glue flaps of the cup-shaped lid attach to a portion of an outer surface of any one of the side panels or the rear panel.

To erect the cup-shaped lid portion 2 of the present carton 1 (as illustrated in FIG. 3), left side and right side glue flaps 20 and 27 are each folded back by 90° relative to the top panel 24. Rear glue flap 35 is folded back 90° relative to the top panel 24. Left lid and right lid glue flaps 30 and 37 are also folded 90° from the rear glue flap 35. The outer surface of 30 is glued to the inner surface of 20. Similarly, the outer surface of 37 is glued to the inner surface of 27. Then once the carton body is erected and filled with product, this cup-shaped lid may then be closed over the opening of the carton (by folding along the hinge/fold line 11) and the inner surfaces of glued and overlapping flaps 30 and 20 may then be glued to an upper portion of the outer surface of left side panel 5. Similarly, the inner surfaces of the glued and overlapping flaps 37 and 27 may be glued to the outer surface of an upper portion of the right side panel 14. Finally, the inner surface of rear glue flap 35 is glued onto an upper portion of the outer surface of rear panel 50. In this way it can be appreciated that the left side and right side glue flaps 20 and 27, and the rear glue flap 35, all remain exposed on the fully erected glued and sealed carton because the cup-shaped lid encases the open top of the carton body. Therefore, some decorative design elements may be instilled into these three flaps, such as the arched edges 21, 28 and 36 in the particular embodiment of FIG. 1. Certainly any or all of the arched edges 21, 28, and 36 could just as well be straight edges and the cup-shaped lid could be squared and box-like (as per any cigarette box with a flip open lid). As mentioned above, the cup-shaped lid comprising the top panel 24 and all the glue flaps 20, 27, 30, 35, and 37 is optional to the present carton, and any other configuration of flaps/panels to close the open top of the present carton is within the scope of the present invention. For example, another embodiment comprising a four (4) flap cereal box top closure instead of a hinging cup-shape lid will be disclosed below.

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment of a die-cut blank 4′ which forms a carton within the scope of the present invention. This particular blank forms a carton that comprises a four (4) flap fold-up box top similar to countless cereal boxes. As in the previous blank, blank 4′ comprises a square or rectangular shaped rear panel 50′ foldably connected to a second left-side panel 55′ by a straight fold line 51′ and foldably connected to a second right-side panel 60′ by a straight fold line 53′. Both 51′ and 53′ are of identical length, represent the height of the carton, and are from about 6 to about 10 inches. The second set of side panels 55′ and 60′ each may comprise a wave-shaped die-cut edge, 57′ and 62′ respectively. These two wave-shaped edges are in all regards identical in shape and size to the edges 57 and 62 in blank 4 (FIG. 1), discussed thoroughly above. As such, that discussion is applied here and is not repeated. As with blank 4, the panels 55′ and 60′ need not comprise wave-shaped cut edges 57′ and 62′ because the second set of panels hide behind the first set of side panels and these edges are not visible in the completed carton. The cut edges 57′ and 62′ may be just straight cut edges parallel to 51′ and 53′ and the panels 55′ and 60′ could be narrow rectangular panels. As in the previous blank 4, rear panel 50′ is foldably connected to a bottom panel 70′ by a straight fold line 52′. Line 52′ is the width of the carton, as is preferably from about 5 to about 6 inches.

Still referring to FIG. 2, the blank 4′ further comprises a left bottom glue flap 65′ and a right bottom glue flap 75′, each foldably connected to bottom panel 70′ by opposing straight fold lines 67′ and 71′ respectively. Flaps 65′ and 75′ are in every way identical to flaps 65 and 75 in the previous blank 4 (FIG. 1), and therefore the previous description applies here. Their precise shape and size is highly variable as these are structural elements that are not visible on the exterior of the finished carton. The bottom panel 70′ is foldably connected to the wave-shaped front panel 10′ by a straight fold line 13′. Front panel 10′ is foldably connected to a first left-side panel 5′ by a wave-shaped fold line 9′, and foldably connected to a first right-side panel 14′ by a wave-shaped fold line 12′. The wave-shaped fold lines 9′ and 12′ are also referred to herein as the left wave-shaped fold line and the right wave-shaped fold line, respectively, when discussing a carton erected from the blank 4′. These three panels 5′, 10′, and 14′ and the two wave-shaped fold lines 9′ and 12′ connecting them are in every regard identical to the embodiment of FIG. 1, and therefore their description need not be repeated. As mentioned, for a box having height from about 6 to about 10 inches, (the length of panels 51′ or 53′), the preferred undulations in the wave-shaped fold lines 9′ and 12′ are from about 1/16 to about ½ inch, and it is preferred that fold lines 9′ and 12′ be identical and superimposable to maximize the aesthetics of the front of the carton and to avoid creases. As with the previous blank, if wave-shaped die-cut lines 57′ and 62′ are incorporated on the second set of side panels with the intent that the second set of side panels fully overlap with the first set of side panels, then it is most preferred that all four wave-shaped curves and cut lines 9′, 12′, 57′, and 62′ are identical and can be superimposed. Less preferred, yet fully acceptable, is where 9′ is identical in size/shape to 12′, 57′ is identical in size/shape to 62′, provided 57′ dovetails into the fold line 9′ when inverted, and 62′ dovetails into the fold line 12′ when inverted. Even less preferred is where the second set of side panels 55′ and 60′ are narrower rectangular panels with the intent that they will not fully overlap with the first set of side panels 5′ and 14′, in which case the only two curves present in the embodiment, namely 9′ and 12′, need to be at least substantially similar to one another, or superimposable.

The variations between embodiment 4 and 4′ in the present invention are the top portion of the carton and the portions of the blank 4′ that form the top of the carton. Still referring to the blank 4′ in FIG. 2, and unlike the previous blank 4 (FIG. 1), the blank 4′ features a rearward top panel 35′ foldably connected to rear panel 50′ by straight fold line 54′. The fold line 54′ is also referred to herein as the rear lid hinge line when discussing another embodiment of the erected carton. Therefore, rear panel 50′ is surrounded on all four sides by panels, namely second left-side panel 55′, bottom panel 70′, second right-side panel 60′, and rearward top panel 35′, all through straight fold lines 51′, 52′, 53′, and 54′ respectively. Rearward top panel 35′ may also include a small slit 350 that may be used to close the carton, and it may be appropriately dimensioned to accept a tab or tongue from an adjacent top panel (discussed below). The rearward top panel should have the same width as the carton (i.e. fold line 54′ should be the width of the carton, and the width of the panel should be half the depth of the carton. Also differing from the prior embodiment, blank 4′ further comprises a forward top panel 24′ foldably connected to the front panel 10′ by straight fold line 11′. The fold line 11′ is also referred to herein as the front lid hinge line when discussing another embodiment of the erected carton. Fold line 11′ is substantially parallel to fold line 13′ and forms the top front edge of the erected carton. The forward top panel 24′ may also comprise an integral tab or tongue feature 240 that may be dimensioned to fit into slit 350 when resealing a previously opened carton.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the first left-side panel 5′ is foldably connected to a left top flap 20′ by a straight fold line 6′. The left top flap 20′ is bound by die-cut edges on its remaining three edges. Straight fold line 6′ is essentially a collinear extension of straight fold line 11′. The length of fold line 6′ may be close to the depth to the carton (about 1 to about 4 inches preferred) and the length of die-cut edge 21′ may be close to half the width of the carton (up to about one half of the 5 to about 6 inches preferred width of the carton). Similarly, the first right-side panel 14′ is foldably connected to a right top flap 27′ by a straight fold line 15′. Also, straight fold line 15′ is a collinear extension of straight fold line 11′ such that the three fold lines 6′, 11′, and 15′ form essentially one straight line. The sizes of the flaps 20′ and 27′ are variable and only need to be of sufficient size to support the top of the carton (e.g., to provide support and a sufficient glue surface for panels 24′ and 35′ that will rest on them, as discussed below), and they don't need to be of identical size and shape. As mentioned, such side flaps used for forming the top closure of a carton usually have a depth the same as the depth of the carton and occupy up to half the width of the carton, but usually only about 1-2 inches for a carton having about 6 inches width. The relative size of these flaps 20′ and 27′ as depicted in the blank 4′ are of sufficient size and shape to support the top of the carton. Wave-shaped front panel 10′ is foldably connected to a substantially square or rectangular forward top panel 24′ by a straight fold line 11′. Since the three fold lines 6′, 11′, and 15′ form essentially one straight line as mentioned above, the flaps 20′, 27′ and the forward top panel 24′ all line up in a row of sorts with their fold lines collinear.

Lastly and still referring to FIG. 2, left top flap 20′, right top flap 27′, rearward top panel 35′ and forward top panel 24′ comprise a four (4) panel closure for the top of the carton of the present invention. As mentioned, a tab or tongue 240 may be configured on forward top panel 24′ to fit inside the slit 350 to close a resealable carton. This arrangement of two relatively longer panels (24′, 35′) and two relatively shorter flaps (20′, 27′), and the presence of appropriately sized tab 240 and slit 350 for a resealing option, is common to many (if not most) cereal boxes.

Referring now to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the complete carton 1′ of the present invention is depicted. The carton 1′ may be formed by folding, erecting, and gluing the carton blank 4′ shown in FIG. 2. The finished carton 1′ comprises wave-shaped front panel 10′ foldably connected to first right-side panel 14′ by the wave-shaped fold line 12′. The wave-shaped fold line 12′ is seen to approximate a sine wave and for a carton with height of from about 6 to about 10 inches, the wave undulations are preferably from about 1/16 inch to about ½ inch. The top of the carton is seen to comprise both a forward top panel 24′ and a rearward top panel 35′. Underneath these top panels are the right top flap and the left top flap. These flaps are not visible in the completed carton because the panels 24′ and 35′ are folded last and glued onto them, (see the carton blank 4′ in FIG. 2). The tab 240 that is an integral part of the die-cut forward top panel 24′ may be glued over the top of the slit 350 and thus obscure it from view, consistent with the drawing. As with countless cereal boxes, access to the contents of the carton involve prying up panels 24′ and 35′ from the glue flaps underneath. Reclosing the carton is achieved by bending the panels 24′ and 35′ back in place and on top of flaps 20′ and 27′ to cover the opening of the carton, while slipping the tab 240 into the slit 350.

We have thus described a carton comprising opposing wave-shaped and squared panels wherein the opposing panels preferably comprise a wave-shaped front panel and a squared back panel. Such a carton is readily formed from a single die-cut blank. The carton features two opposing wave-shaped edges on the front panel wherein each wave approximates a single sine wave with frequency equal to the height of the carton. The present carton may have a flip open cup-shaped lid or a four flap cereal box closure.

Claims

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.