Carton having a hinged end closure

Claim 1

A hinged reclosable top closure for a rectangular carton having a body portion closed at its lower end and comprising front and rear side wall panels connected along their side edges to a pair of end wall panels, said hinged top closure being formed by integral extensions from the upper edges of said wall panels and including an integral three-section portion extending from said front and said end wall panels and connected to the upper edge thereof by weakened lines providing frangible connecting portions, said upper edges lying in a common plane and said three-section portion being folded downwardly and upwardly to provide a two-ply band about the upper portion of said front and end wall panels, the inner ply portions confronting the upper portions of the end wall panels of said two-ply band being partially cut out to provide engaging portions, the upper portions of said end wall panels being provided with slit openings defining tabs for cooperation with said engaging portions, there being relatively short separate front and end wall flaps projecting upwardly from said two-ply band which are folded inwardly, and an inwardly folded flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said rear wall panel and adhesively secured to said relatively short inwardly folded front and end flaps to provide a hinged cover connected to the upper edges of said front and end wall panels by said frangible connecting portions, said closure being initially opened by pulling the band outwardly and upwardly with sufficient force to rupture said frangible connecting portions, said engaging portions and said tabs arranged to cooperate to effect automatic locking of the hinged cover upon closing and reclosing the carton.