CARTON WITH INTERLOCKING FEATURES

Abstract

A carton for holding one or more products. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, and the plurality of panels can comprise at least a front panel and a back panel. The front panel can extend opposite at least a portion of the back panel, and at least a portion of the back panel can extend past a top edge of the front panel. The carton further can comprise a plurality of locking elements for at least partially interlocking the carton with a second carton for at least partially forming a carton assembly.

Claims

1. A carton for holding one or more products, the carton comprising: a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a back panel, wherein the front panel extends opposite at least a portion of the back panel and at least a portion of the back panel extends past a top edge of the front panel; and a plurality of locking elements for at least partially interlocking the carton with a second carton for at least partially forming a carton assembly.

2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locking elements extends along at least a portion of the back panel.

3. The carton of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locking elements comprises a locking slot extending along at least a portion of the back panel and a locking tab extending from an edge of the back panel, the locking tab being spaced apart from the front panel.

4. The carton of claim 3, wherein the front panel is foldably connected to the back panel, and the locking slot extends along at least a portion of the front panel.

5. The carton of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locking elements comprises a first locking slot, a second locking slot, a first locking tab, and a second locking tab, the first locking slot and the second locking slot extending along at least a portion of the back panel, the first locking tab extending from a first edge of the back panel, and the second locking tab extending from a second edge of the back panel.

6. The carton of claim 5, wherein the first locking tab and the second locking tab are spaced apart from the front panel.

7. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a front bottom flap and a back bottom flap at least partially closing a bottom end of the carton.

8. The carton of claim 7, wherein the front bottom flap is foldably connected to the front panel along a front arcuate fold line and the back bottom flap is foldably connected to the back panel along a back arcuate fold line.

9. The carton of claim 8, wherein the front panel is foldably connected to the back panel along at least a longitudinal fold line, and wherein the front panel and the back panel at least partially curve away from one another along the front arcuate fold line and the back arcuate fold line.

10. The carton of claim 1, wherein the carton is separable from the second carton along at least a tear line.

11. A carton assembly for holding one or more products, the carton assembly comprising: a first carton comprising a first plurality of panels that extends at least partially around a first carton interior, the first carton further comprising a first plurality of locking elements; and a second carton comprising a second plurality of panels that extends at least partially around a second carton interior, the second carton further comprising a second plurality of locking elements; the first carton engages the second carton so that the first carton interior cooperates with the second carton interior to form an assembly interior of the carton assembly, and the first plurality of locking elements engage the second plurality of locking elements for at least partially retaining the first carton and the second carton in the carton assembly.

12. The carton assembly of claim 11, wherein each of the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels comprises at least a front panel and a back panel.

13. The carton assembly of claim 12, wherein the back panel of the first carton is in an overlapping relationship with the front panel of the second carton and the back panel of the second carton is in an overlapping relationship with the front panel of the first carton.

14. The carton assembly of claim 13, wherein the back panel of the first carton is in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the front panel of the second carton and the back panel of the second carton is in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the front panel of the first carton.

15. The carton assembly of claim 12, wherein, for each of the first carton and the second carton, the front panel extends opposite at least a portion of the back panel and at least a portion of the back panel extends past a top edge of the front panel.

16. The carton assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the first plurality of locking elements and the second plurality of locking elements comprises a locking slot extending along at least a portion of the back panel of the respective first carton and second carton and a locking tab extending from an edge of the back panel of the respective first carton and second carton, the locking tabs being spaced apart from the respective front panel of the respective first carton and second carton.

17. The carton assembly of claim 16, wherein the locking slot of the first carton at least partially receives the locking tab of the second carton and the locking slot of the second carton at least partially receives the locking tab of the first carton.

18. The carton assembly of claim 16, wherein, for each of the first carton and the second carton, the front panel is foldably connected to the back panel and the locking slot extends along at least a portion of the front panel.

19. The carton assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the first carton and the second carton further comprises a front bottom flap foldably connected to the front panel along a front arcuate fold line and a back bottom flap foldably connected to the back panel along a back arcuate fold line, wherein, for each of the first carton and the second carton, the front bottom flap and the back bottom flap are foldable along the respective front arcuate fold line and the back arcuate fold line to at least partially open and close a bottom end of the respective first carton and second carton.

20. The carton assembly of claim 19, wherein, for each of the first carton and the second carton, the front panel and the back panel are curved away from one another when the front bottom flap and the back bottom flap of the respective first carton and second carton are folded to close the bottom end of the respective first carton and second carton.

21. A blank for forming a plurality of cartons for holding one or more products, the blank comprising: a first part for at least partially forming a first carton of the plurality of cartons, the first part comprising a first plurality of panels and a first plurality of locking elements; and a second part for at least partially forming a second carton of the plurality of cartons, the second part comprising a second plurality of panels and a second plurality of locking elements, the first part and the second part being separable from one another along at least a tear line; wherein the first carton formed from the first part is for engaging the second carton formed from the second part for at least partially forming a carton assembly, and the first plurality of locking elements and the second plurality of locking elements are for being engaged for at least partially retaining the first carton and the second carton in engagement with one another when the carton assembly is formed from the blank.

22. The blank of claim 21, wherein each of the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels comprises at least a front panel and a back panel.

23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the tear line is a first tear line, the back panel of the first part is at least partially connected to the front panel of the second part along the first tear line, and the back panel of the second part is at least partially connected to the front panel of the first part along a second tear line.

24. The blank of claim 22, wherein, for each of the first part and the second part, the front panel is foldably connected to at least a portion of the back panel and at least a portion of the back panel extends past a top edge of the front panel.

25. The blank of claim 22, wherein each of the first plurality of locking elements and the second plurality of locking elements comprises a locking slot extending along at least a portion of the back panel of the respective first part and second part and a locking tab extending from an edge of the back panel of the respective first part and second part, the locking tabs being spaced apart from the respective front panel of the respective first part and second part.

26. The blank of claim 25, wherein each of the locking tabs extends from a free edge of the respective back panel of the respective first part and second part.

27. The blank of claim 25, further comprising a cutout defined along at least a portion of the first part and the second part, wherein each of the locking tabs extends from an edge of the respective back panel of the respective first part and second part, and the edges extend along the cutout.

28. The blank of claim 25, wherein, for each of the first part and the second part, the front panel is foldably connected to the back panel and the locking slot extends along at least a portion of the front panel.

29. The blank of claim 22, wherein each of the first part and the second part further comprises a front bottom flap foldably connected to the front panel along a front arcuate fold line and a back bottom flap foldably connected to the back panel along a back arcuate fold line, wherein, for each of the first part and the second part, the front bottom flap and the back bottom flap are foldable along the respective front arcuate fold line and back arcuate fold line to at least partially open and close a bottom end of the respective first carton and second carton formed from the blank.

30. A method of forming a plurality of cartons for holding one or more products, the method comprising: obtaining a blank comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a first plurality of panels and a first plurality of locking elements, and the second part comprising a second plurality of panels and a second plurality of locking elements, the blank comprising a tear line extending along at least a portion of each of the first part and the second part; and forming the blank into at least a first carton and a second carton of the plurality of cartons by folding the blank, the first carton and the second carton being separable from one another along the tear line; wherein the first carton is for engaging the second carton for at least partially forming a carton assembly, and the first plurality of locking elements and the second plurality of locking elements are for being engaged for at least partially retaining the first carton and the second carton in engagement with one another when the carton assembly is formed from the first carton and the second carton.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein each of the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels comprises at least a front panel and a back panel, the tear line is a first tear line, the back panel of the first part is at least partially connected to the front panel of the second part along the first tear line, and the back panel of the second part is at least partially connected to the front panel of the first part along a second tear line, and wherein the method further comprises separating the first carton and the second carton from one another along at least the first tear line and the second tear line.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein each of the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels comprises at least a front panel and a back panel, and wherein, for each of the first part and the second part, the front panel is foldably connected to at least a portion of the back panel and at least a portion of the back panel extends past a top edge of the front panel.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein each of the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels comprises at least a front panel and a back panel, and wherein each of the first plurality of locking elements and the second plurality of locking elements comprises a locking slot extending along at least a portion of the back panel of the respective first part and second part and a locking tab extending from an edge of the back panel of the respective first part and second part, the locking tabs being spaced apart from the respective front panel of the respective first part and second part.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein each of the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels comprises at least a front panel and a back panel, wherein each of the first part and the second part further comprises a front bottom flap foldably connected to the front panel along a front arcuate fold line and a back bottom flap foldably connected to the back panel along a back arcuate fold line, and wherein the method further comprises separating the first carton and the second carton from one another along at least the tear line and folding the front bottom flap and the back bottom flap of at least one of the first carton and the second carton along the respective front arcuate fold line and back arcuate fold line to at least partially close a bottom end of the respective first carton and second carton.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising separating the first carton and the second carton from one another along at least the tear line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used to form a carton according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 2A is a plan view of a flattened construct formed from the blank of FIG. 1 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the construct of FIG. 2A in an erected configuration according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0013] FIGS. 3A and 3B are respective back and front views of respective cartons formed from the flattened construct of FIG. 2A and/or from the blank of FIG. 1 in a flattened configuration according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B are respective top perspective and bottom perspective views of the two cartons of FIGS. 3A and 3B in an erected configuration according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 4A holding a food product according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the engaging of the two cartons of FIGS. 4A and 4B to form a carton assembly according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the carton assembly formed from the cartons of FIGS. 4A and 4B according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a detail perspective view of engaged locking features of the carton assembly of FIG. 6 according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

[0019] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The present disclosure generally relates to constructs, boxes, cartons, carriers, containers, or the like, for holding one or more products or articles such as food items (e.g., for food service, for display and/or sale, for storage, etc.) or other articles such as any suitable type of product that can be served, stored, displayed, transported, cooled, frozen, heated, and/or cooked. Some suitable products could include wraps and/or other sandwiches, burritos, hot dogs, French fries, vegetables, nachos, tacos, cookies, chips, pastries, fruits, popcorn, cuts of meat, and/or any other suitable food product or other article. It is understood that food products (and/or non-food products) other than the food products listed herein may be contained in the package. Constructs according to the present disclosure can accommodate products or articles of any shape.

[0021] In this specification, the terms inner, interior, outer, exterior, lower, bottom, upper, and top indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright constructs and cartons. As described herein, constructs can be formed with multiple walls, panels, portions, tabs, flaps, fold lines, cut lines, tear lines, and/or other aspects, which may be designated herein in terms relative to one another, e.g., first, second, third, etc., in sequential or nonsequential reference, without departing from the disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the exterior side 101 of a blank, generally indicated at 103, used to form a folded construct 104 (FIG. 2A) that can be separated into two containers or cartons 105a, 105b (FIGS. 3A-4B) according to exemplary embodiments of the disclosure. One or both of the cartons 105a, 105b can be used to hold one or more food products P (FIG. 4C), such as a wrap or other sandwich and/or other suitable food items and/or other suitable products. Further, the two cartons 105a, 105b can cooperate to form a package or carton assembly 107 and to at least partially enclose a package interior 109 (FIGS. 5-7) for holding a food product P in the enclosed package interior 109. For example, a food product P can be placed in one or both of the cartons 105a, 105b and/or can be enclosed in the carton assembly 107 for serving and/or transporting the food item (e.g., to a consumer).

[0023] In the illustrated embodiments, the blank 103 has a longitudinal axis L1 extending generally in the direction of the length of the blank and a lateral axis L2 extending generally in the direction of the width of the blank. As shown in FIG. 1, the blank 103 can include a first section or part 121a connected to a second section or part 121b along two tear lines 123 (e.g., cut lines interrupted by a plurality of nicks and/or other suitable lines of weakening). The first part 121a and the second part 121b can include a respective first plurality of panels and second plurality of panels, wherein each of the first plurality of panels and the second plurality of panels comprises a respective front panel 125 foldably connected to a respective back panel 127 along a respective longitudinal fold line 129. In embodiments, the front panel 125 and the back panel 127 of the first part 121a are separable from the respective back panel 127 and front panel 125 of the second part 121a along the tear lines 123. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the front panels 125 can be foldably connected to a respective front bottom flap 131 along a respective arcuate fold line 133 and each of the back panels 127 can be foldably connected to a respective back bottom flap 135 along a respective arcuate fold line 137. In embodiments, each of the front bottom flaps 131 can have a convex outer edge, and the back bottom flaps 135 can be similarly shaped as the front bottom flaps 131 except that each of the back bottom flaps 135 can include a concave portion. Alternatively, the bottom flaps 131, 135 could have any suitable shape. Any of the panels 125, 127 and/or the flaps 131, 135 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the first part 121a can include a first attachment flap 141a foldably connected to the front panel 125 of the first part 121a along a first longitudinal fold line 143, and the second part 121b can include a second attachment flap 141b foldably connected to the back panel 127 of the second part 121b along a second longitudinal fold line 143. In the illustrated embodiments, the blank 103 can include a cutout 145 (e.g., a central cutout) extending along respective edges of each of the front and back panels 125, 127. As shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal fold lines 129 can be collinear (e.g., approximately, generally, and/or substantially collinear) and can be spaced apart by the cutout 145. Similarly, the longitudinal fold lines 143 can be collinear (e.g., approximately, generally, and/or substantially collinear) and can be spaced apart by a recess 147 in the blank 103 between the attachment flaps 141a, 141b. Any of the attachment flaps 141a, 141b, the cutout 145, and/or the recess 147 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiments, the blank 103 can include locking features (e.g., first locking features and second locking features associated with the respective first part 121a and second part 121b and the respective cartons 105a, 105b) that can help retain the cartons 105a, 105b formed from the respective parts 121a, 121b in engagement with one another in the form of the carton assembly 107. As shown in FIG. 1, the locking features can include cuts 151 (e.g., four cuts 151 with two cuts 151 in the first part 121a and two cuts 151 in the second part 121b) extending in the panels 125, 127 and the attachment flaps 141a, 141b, each of the cuts 151 interrupting a respective one of the fold lines 129, 143. In embodiments, the cuts 151 each can include an oblique portion extending between two curved ends, wherein the curved ends closest to a center of the blank 103 (e.g., to a lateral centerline of the blank 103) can be larger than the respective opposing ends. As shown in FIG. 1, the locking features further can include friction locks such as protrusions or tabs 153 (e.g., four curved tabs) or other suitable elements extending from respective free edges 155, 157 of the back panels 127. For example, one tab 153 can extend into the cutout 145 from each of the back panels 127 and one tab 153 can extend from each of the back panels 127 from outer free edges of the blank 103. For example, two of the tabs 153 can extend from the free edges 155 of the respective back panels 127 along the cutout 145, and two of the tabs 153 can extend from the free edges 157 of the respective back panels 127 along outer edges of the blank, wherein the free edge 157 of the second part 121b can extend along the recess 147. In embodiments, the two tabs 153 extending from each of the back panels 127 can be opposing one another (e.g., so that the tabs 153 are aligned along the lateral direction L2 in each of the back panels 127). The locking features, including any of the cuts 151 and/or the tabs 153, could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

[0026] The blank 103 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2A, the blank 103 can be formed into the construct 104 in a flattened, collapsed configuration. For example, the attachment flaps 141a, 141b can be folded along the respective longitudinal fold lines 143 over the interior surfaces of the respective front panel 125 of the first part 121a and back panel 127 of the second part 121b (e.g., into face-to-face contact with the respective panels 125, 127 of the respective parts 121a, 121b). In embodiments, glue can be applied to the exterior surfaces of the attachment flaps 141a, 141b and/or to the interior surfaces of the back panel 127 of the first part 121a and the front panel 125 of the second part 121b. The blank 103 can be folded along the longitudinal fold lines 129 so that the back panels 127 are in an at least partially overlapping relationship with one another and so that the front panels 125 of the parts 121a, 121b are in an at least partially overlapping relationship with the back panels 127 of the respective parts 121a, 121b. In embodiments, the folding of the blank 103 can bring the attachment flaps 141a, 141b into an at least partially overlapping relationship with the respective back panel 127 of the first part 121a and front panel 125 of the second part 121b (e.g., gluing the attachment flaps 141a, 141b in face-to-face contact with the interior surfaces of the respective back panel 127 and front panel 125). In embodiments, the formation of the construct 104 also forms the cartons 105a, 105b from the respective parts 121a, 121b (e.g., when the blank 103 is folded and the attachment flaps 141a, 141b are glued in place). In the illustrated embodiments, the cartons 105a, 105b are connected to one another and are separable from one another along the tear lines 123.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2A, the construct 104 can be in the form of an open-ended sleeve with the bottom flaps 131, 135 extending at the respective open ends 167. In embodiments, the construct 104, and the cartons 105a, 105b that make up the construct 105, can be in a collapsed/flattened condition (e.g., with the overlapping panels at least partially in face-to-face contact with one another) for compact storage and/or transportation. For example, a plurality of the flattened constructs 104 can be arranged in a stack in a restaurant so that the constructs 104 can be obtained from the stack for filing with a food item for food service. The construct 104 could be otherwise formed and/or used without departing from the disclosure.

[0029] In some embodiments, the construct 104 can be moved from the flattened configuration of FIG. 2A to an erected configuration as shown in FIG. 2B. For example, the construct 104 can be pressed inwardly at its edges (e.g., along the longitudinal fold lines 129, 143) so that the front and back panels of the construct 104 move apart and extend along a construct interior. In embodiments, the opposing ends 167 of the construct 104 can be closed for enclosing the construct interior and for holding the construct 104 in the erected configuration. For example, the bottom flaps 131, 135 can be folded along the respective curved fold lines 133, 137 inwardly over the respective bottom ends 167 of the construct 104. In exemplary embodiments, the curved shapes of the fold lines 133, 137 and/or the shapes of the bottom flaps 131, 135 can cause the construct 104 to shape up with the front panels 125 and the respective back panels 127 curving away from one another so that the panels and the bottom flaps of the construct 104 extend along and around at least a portion of the construct interior. A food item can be inserted into the erected construct 104 (e.g., through at least one of the ends of the construct 104) before closing the end(s) 167 (e.g., for serving, take-away, display, consuming, etc.). In embodiments, the food item can be accessed and/or removed for eating by tearing the construct 104 open (e.g., along the tear lines 123) and/or by opening at least one of the ends 167. The construct 104 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cartons 105a, 105b can be separated from one another by tearing the construct 104 (e.g., in the flattened configuration of FIG. 2A) along the tear lines 123 and pulling the cartons 105a, 105b apart from one another. In embodiments, the cartons 105a, 105b can be in the form of open-ended sleeves (e.g., flattened/collapsed sleeves) after separating the cartons 105a, 105b from the construct 104 (FIGS. 2A, 3A, and 3B). In embodiments, the arcuate shape of the tear lines 123 can result in the front panels 125 having a free top edge 161a that is concave and in the back panels 127 having a free top edge 161b that is convex. As shown in FIGS. 3A-4B, the larger back panels 127 can extend past the top edges 161a of the respective front panels 125 at the open top ends 163 of the respective cartons 105a, 105b so that the back panel 127 of one or both of the cartons 105a, 105b can support a food product and/or a portion of a food product extending from an interior 165 of the carton through the open top end 163 for display and/or consumption of the food product and/or partial food product (FIG. 4C). For example, one or more food items can be partially enclosed between the front panel 125 and the back panel 127 in the interior 165 of one of the cartons 105a, 105b, can extend past the top edge 161a of the front panel 125, and can be supported on the back panel 127 in the interior 165 of the carton as well as upwardly from the top edge 161a of the front panel 125. The cartons 105a, 105b could be otherwise formed from the construct 104 without departing from the disclosure.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the cartons 105a, 105b can be moved to an erected configuration by pressing inwardly at the edges of the cartons (e.g., along the longitudinal fold lines 129, 143) so that the front panels 125 and the back panels 127 of the of the respective cartons 105a, 105b move apart and extend along a carton interior 165 of the respective cartons 105a, 105b. The cartons 105a, 105b further can be erected by folding the bottom flaps 131, 135 along the respective curved fold lines 133, 137 inwardly over the bottom ends 167 of the cartons. In embodiments, the folded bottom flaps 131, 135 can be at least partially overlapped at the bottom ends 167 to at least partially form a bottom wall 169 at least partially closing the bottom ends 167. In the illustrated embodiments, the curved shapes of the fold lines 133, 137 and/or the shape of the bottom flaps 131, 135 can cause the cartons 105a, 105b to shape up with the front panels 125 and the respective back panels 127 curving away from one another so that the front panel 125, the back panel 127, and the bottom wall 169 of each carton 105a, 105b extends along and around at least a portion of the carton interior 165 of the respective carton 105a, 105b. In exemplary embodiments, the shape of the bottom flaps 131, 135 and/or the curved fold lines 133, 137 can help resist folding of the bottom flaps 131, 135 outwardly to open the bottom ends 167 and/or can help resist collapsing of the cartons 105a, 105b (e.g., until the bottom flaps 131, 135 are deliberately folded outwardly to collapse the cartons).

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4C, a food product P (e.g., a sandwich wrap, a gyro, a burrito, a lettuce wrap, etc.) is inserted into the carton 105a so that a portion of the product P is received in the carton interior 165 between the front panel 125 and the back panel 127 through the open top end 163 of the carton 105a. In the illustrated embodiments, a top portion of the food product P can extend through the open top end 163 of the carton 105a (e.g., past the free top edge 161a of the front panel 125 so that the top portion is visible and/or accessible in the carton 105a. Accordingly, the top portion can be inspected and/or consumed while the product P is held in the carton 105a. In embodiments, the back panel 127 can support the food product P, including the top portion of the food product, while the food product P is held in the carton 105a. For example, the back panel 127 can act as a plate or protector for the food product P, such as when the carton is placed on a surface (e.g., a table, not shown). The cartons 105a, 105b could be otherwise erected from the collapsed configuration of FIGS. 3A and 3B and/or could otherwise hold a product without departing from the disclosure.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5-7, the carton assembly 107 can be formed by engaging and/or interlocking the cartons 105a, 105b. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the cartons 105a, 105b can be arranged opposite to one another with the top ends 163 facing one another and with one carton having the front panel 125 facing upwardly and the other carton having the back panel 127 facing upwardly. In the illustrated embodiments, the top portions of the back panels 127 can face one another and the top edges 161b of the back panels 127 can be inserted into the interior 165 of the opposite carton 105b, 105a (e.g., so that a top portion of the back panels 127 of the cartons 105a, 105b are in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the respective front panels 125 of the respective opposite cartons 105b, 105a). In exemplary embodiments, the cartons 105a, 105b can be moved together to engage one another to form the carton assembly 107 (e.g., with the carton interiors 165 of the cartons 105a, 105b cooperating to at least partially form the assembly interior 109 of the carton assembly 107. In the illustrated embodiments, one or more food products P held in at least one of the cartons 105a, 105b when the cartons 105a, 105b are assembled can be held in the assembly interior 109 of the carton assembly 107.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the locking elements of each carton 105a, 105b can engage the locking elements of the respectively opposing carton 105b, 105a to help retain the cartons 105a, 105b engaged with one another in the carton assembly 107 (e.g., until the cartons 105a, 105b are deliberately pulled apart). For example, as the back panels 127 of the cartons 105a, 105b are inserted into the respective opposite cartons 105b, 105a, the tabs 153 extending from the respective back panels 127 can be received in (e.g., can extend at least partially through) respective slots 171 in the respective cartons 105b, 105a, wherein the slots 171 can be at least partially formed from the respective cuts 151 when the blank 103 is folded along the longitudinal fold lines 129, 143. In embodiments, the tabs 153 can engage the slots 171 to form friction locks that can help resist forces that could otherwise cause the cartons 105a, 105b to separate (e.g., until the cartons are deliberately pulled apart to open the carton assembly 107). The carton assembly 107 could be otherwise formed and/or the cartons 105a, 105b could be otherwise engaged without departing from the disclosure.

[0035] In exemplary embodiments, one or more food items can be loaded into the construct 104, one or both of the cartons 105a, 105b, and/or the carton assembly 107. In embodiments, the interior 109 of the carton assembly 107 can be at least partially enclosed by the cartons 105a, 105b with the front panels 125, the back panels 127 and the bottom walls 169 extending along the interior 109 so that the carton assembly 107 can enclose and protect one or more food products in the interior 109 (e.g., during food service and/or transportation/delivery of the one or more products). In embodiments, the carton assembly 107 can be separated back into the cartons 105a, 105b, such as for consuming the one or more food products in the carton assembly 107. The one or more food products and/or portions of the one or more food products can be supported in one or both of the cartons 105a, 105b after breaking up the carton assembly 107 into the cartons and/or during consumption of the one or more food products.

[0036] In embodiments, the construct 104, the cartons 105a, 105b, and/or the carton assembly 107 can help reduce packaging waste since the construct/cartons/carton assembly can be used in multiple ways. For example, the construct 104 can be separated into the two cartons 105a, 105b, which can be used to hold separate food items for one or more customers (e.g., in a dine-in situation). In another example, the two cartons 105a, 105b can be engaged to form the carton assembly 107, which can enclose one or more food products (e.g., in a take-out/delivery situation). Further, the extended back panels 127 of the cartons 105a, 105b can help protect one or more food products like a plate while allowing a user to view and/or to consume the product held in the respective carton 105a, 105b.

[0037] Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can be combined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0038] The blanks according to the present disclosure can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank. In accordance with the above-described embodiments, the blanks may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described herein. The blanks can also be laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.

[0039] In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.

[0040] As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type of tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.

[0041] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. The term glue is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.

[0042] The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.