Carton with tamper-evident feature and method of using same
A tamper-evident carton and method of using same. The tamper evident carton may include a floor panel; side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel; corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets may be configurable to form a compartment region; a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of one of the side panels forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap may include a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint; and a tear strip disposed in the front edge flap.
1. A tamper evident carton, comprising:
a. a floor panel;
b. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, wherein the side panels comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein;
c. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
d. a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap comprising a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint;
e. a tear strip disposed in the front edge flap; and
wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap.
2. The tamper evident carton of claim 1 , wherein the lid flap comprises one or more locking tabs, wherein the one or more locking tabs are configured to engage with the receiving tab of one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap.
3. The tamper evident carton of claim 2 , wherein the one or more locking tabs are configured to be interlockable with a corresponding receiving tab of one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap when the lid flap is in a closed configuration.
4. The tamper evident carton of claim 3 , wherein once interlocked the interlocked locking tab and receiving tab are configured such that the locking tab cannot be removed from the receiving tab without causing visible damage to at least one of the locking tab and the receiving tab.
5. The tamper evident carton of claim 1 , wherein the moveable hinge joint formed between the lid flap and the uppermost edge of its respective side panel is perforated.
6. The tamper evident carton of claim 1 , further comprising a first score line and a second score line, wherein the first score line and the second score line define side boundaries of the tear strip, and wherein each of the first score line and the second score line are flanked by a third score line and a fourth score line, respectively.
7. The tamper evident carton of claim 6 , wherein the first score line and the second score line are cut about fifty percent (50%) through from an inside surface of the front edge flap, and wherein the third score line and the fourth score line are cut about fifty percent (50%) through from an outside surface of the front edge flap.
8. The tamper evident carton of claim 7 , wherein upon removal of the tear strip the coupling portion is separated from the front edge of the lid flap.
9. The tamper evident carton of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion is affixable to the front side panel via an adhesive.
10. A method of securing contents in a tamper evident carton, comprising:
a. providing a tamper evident carton, comprising:
i. a floor panel;
ii. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, wherein the side panels comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein;
iii. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
iv. a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap comprising a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint;
v. a tear strip disposed in the front edge flap; and
wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap;
b. inserting contents into the compartment region;
c. folding the lid flap to a closed position; and
d. securing the front edge flap to a side panel opposite that of the side panel from which the front edge flap extends from.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the side panels of the tamper evident carton comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the lid flap comprises one or more locking tabs, and wherein the one or more locking tabs are configured to engage with the receiving tab of one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising interlocking one or more of the one or more locking tabs with a corresponding receiving tab of one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tear strip comprises a first score line and a second score line defining side boundaries thereof, and wherein each of the first score line and the second score line are flanked by a third score line and a fourth score line, respectively.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first score line and the second score line are cut about fifty percent (50%) through from an inside surface of the front edge flap, and wherein the third score line and the fourth score line are cut about fifty percent (50%) through from an outside surface of the front edge flap.
18. A method of providing access to contents in a secured tamper evident carton, comprising:
a. providing a secured tamper evident carton with contents therein, the tamper evident carton comprising:
i. a floor panel;
ii. side panels extending about a periphery of the floor panel, wherein the side panels comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein;
iii. corner gussets extending between adjacent side panels, wherein the floor panel, side panels, and corner gussets are configurable to form a compartment region;
iv. a lid flap extending from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel forming a moveable hinge joint therebetween, the lid flap comprising a front edge flap extending from a front edge of the lid flap opposite that of the moveable hinge joint;
V. a tear strip disposed along a length of the front edge flap; and
wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap;
b. removing the tear strip; and
c. folding open the lid flap.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the side panels of the tamper evident carton comprise a front side panel, an opposing rear side panel, a first end panel, and an opposing second end panel, and wherein the lid flap extends from an uppermost edge of the rear side panel.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the front edge flap further comprises a coupling portion, wherein the coupling portion is configured to affix to at least a portion of an outer facing surface of the front side panel, and wherein the tear strip extends a length of the front edge flap and is disposed between the coupling portion and the front edge of the lid flap.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the front side panel comprises a front side top edge flap and the opposing first and second end panels comprise a first end top edge flap and a second end top edge flap, respectively, wherein the front side top edge flap, the first end top edge flap, and the second end top edge flap are hingedly connected to a top edge of their respective panel, and wherein one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap comprise a receiving tab formed therein.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the lid flap comprises one or more locking tabs, and wherein the one or more locking tabs are configured to engage with the receiving tab of one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap.
23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising, prior to folding open the lid flap, unlocking the one or more of the one or more locking tabs that are interlocked with a corresponding receiving tab of one or more of the front side top edge flap, first end top edge flap, and second end top edge flap.
24. The method of claim 18 , wherein the tear strip comprises a first score line and a second score line defining side boundaries thereof, and wherein each of the first score line and the second score line are flanked by a third score line and a fourth score line, respectively.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the first score line and the second score line are cut about fifty percent (50%) through from an inside surface of the front edge flap, and wherein the third score line and the fourth score line are cut about fifty percent (50%) through from an outside surface of the front edge flap.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein upon removal of the tear strip the coupling portion is separated from the front edge of the lid flap.