Pinch-opening container

Claim 2

A container comprising elongated rectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having therein a generally transversely extending slit, perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacent panels of said enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally from the midpoint of the slit to one end of the container.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 in which said slit is generally V-shaped.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 1 including superimposed panels forming a two-ply bottom which serves as a hinge for an end portion of the enclosure set off by the said perforated tear lines.

Claim 5

A container comprising sidewall panels, a top wall panel, a bottom wall panel, and end walls, the top panel having a generally transversely extending slit proximate to a first end of the container, a fold line extending longitudinally from the midpoint of the slit to said first end of the container, and perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit and transversely of said side panels, whereby pressure applied to the side panels at said one end of the container separates an end portion of the container from said side and top panels.

Claim 6

A container comprising sidewall panels, a top wall panel, a bottom wall panel, and end walls, the top panel having a generally transversely extending slit proximate to a first end of the container, a fold line extending longitudinally from the midpoint of the slit to said first end of the container, and perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit and transversely of said side panels, whereby pressure applied to the side panels at said one end of the container separates an end portion of the container from said side and top panels.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 4 in which said perforated lines extend from the top panel to the bottom wall of said container.

Claim 8

A unitary blank for forming into a container, fold lines dividing said blank into first and second sidewall panels, a top panel, and bottom panel means, said top panel having a generally transversely extending slit therein, said slit terminating at either end at said sidewall panels, said top panel further having a fold line extending from the midpoint of the slit to one end of the container, and perforated tear lines disposed each on one of said sidewall panels and extending from an end of said slit to the bottom panel means.

Claim 9

A unitary blank for forming into a container, fold lines dividing said blank into first and second sidewall panels, a top panel, and bottom panel means, said top panel having a generally transversely extending slit therein, said slit terminating at either end at said sidewall panels, said top panel further having a fold line extending from the midpoint of the slit to one end of the container, and perforated tear lines disposed each on one of said sidewall panels and extending from an end of said slit to the bottom panel means.

Claim 10

The invention according to claim 6 in which said slit is generally V-shaped.

Claim 11

A container comprising elongated rectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having therein a generally V-shaped transversely extending slit, perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacent panels of said enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally from the vertex of the slit to one end of said container.

Claim 12

A container comprising elongated rectangular panels united edge-to-edge to form an enclosure, a first of said panels having therein a generally V-shaped transversely extending slit, perforated tear lines extending from the ends of said slit divergently and traversing adjacent panels of said enclosure, and a fold line extending longitudinally from the vertex of the slit to one end of said container.