User expandable container

Claim 2

A container expandable for use comprising: a blank, cut, scored, folded, and sealed into a container having four sides, a bottom, and scoring for forming a gabled top with a spout, first and second of said sides being oppositely disposed from one another; and scoring means in said first and second oppositely disposed sides and said bottom permitting flattening of said container such that said oppositely disposed sides collapse outwardly to form collapsed, oppositely disposed sides and such that said bottom collapses inwardly upon itself and further permitting re-expanding of said container for use by application of pressure to the collapsed, oppositely disposed sides; a vertical lip including score means defining a first side panel of said vertical lip having a first top edge, a middle panel of said vertical lip having a middle top edge, a second panel of said vertical lip having a second top edge, said middle top edge meeting said first and second top edges at respective first and second intersections; a flap attached to said middle top edge, said flap including: a first horizontal edge attached by at least one uncut segment to said first top edge; first vertical score means located at said first intersection for defining a first end tab; a second horiziontal edge attached by at least one uncut segment to said second top edge; and second vertical score means located at said second intersection for defining a second end tab, wherein said flap is attached to said middle top edge by: a perforated horizontal score; an unperforated horizontal score adjacent said perforated horizontal score, and wherein said first vertical score means comprises; a first perforated vertical score; and a second unperforated vertical score.

Claim 3

The container of claim 1 wherein said second vertical score means comprises: first and second unperforated vertical scores.

Claim 4

The container of claim 1 wherein said flap bears a pressure-sensitive adhesive and a release paper strip overlying said adhesive.

Claim 5

A container blank comprising: a flat, foldable material cut and scored to provide first, second, third and fourth panels, each having a top edge; scoring means in said panels for forming a gabled container top, the gabled container top terminating in a vertical lip having first and second oppositely disposed middle panels formed at the respective top edges of said first and third panels; first horizontal score means on said second panel for forming a first bottom flap; second horizontal score means on said fourth panel for forming a second bottom flap; a first vertical score means extending from the top edge of said second panel to the bottom edge thereof, bisecting said second panel and said first bottom flap; a second vertical score means extending from the top edge of said fourth panel to the bottom edge thereof, bisecting said fourth panel and said second bottom flap; said vertical lip further comprising score means defining a first side panel of said vertical lip having a first top edge, and a second side panel of said vertical lip having a second top edge, said first middle panel having a middle top edge meeting said first and second top edges at respective first and second intersections; said container further including a flap attached to said middle top edge, said flap having: a first horizontal edge attached by at least one uncut segment to said first top edge; first vertical scoring means located at said first insersection for defining a first end tab; a second horizontal edge attached by at least one uncut segment to said second top edge; and second vertical scoring means located at said second intersection for defining a second end tab, and wherein said flap is attached to said middle top edge by: a perforated horizontal score; and an unperforated horizontal score adjacent said perforated horizontal score.

Claim 6

A container blank comprising: a flat, foldable material cut and scored to provide first, second, third and fourth panels, each having a top edge; scoring means in said panels for forming a gabled container top, the gabled container top terminating in a vertical lip having first and second oppositely disposed middle panels formed at the respective top edges of said first and third panels; first horizontal score means on said second panel for forming a first bottom flap; second horizontal score means on said fourth panel for forming a second bottom flap; a first vertical score means extending from the top edge of said second panel to the bottom edge thereof, bisecting said second panel and said first bottom flap; a second vertical score means extending from the top edge of said fourth panel to the bottom edge thereof, bisecting said fourth panel and said second bottom flap; said vertical lip further comprising score means defining a first side panel of said vertical lip having a first top edge, and a second side panel of said vertical lip having a second top edge, said first middle panel having a middle top edge meeting said first and second top edges at respective first and second intersections; said container further including a flap attached to said middle top edge, said flap having: a first horizontal edge attached by at least one uncut segment to said first top edge; first vertical scoring means located at said first insersection for defining a first end tab; a second horizontal edge attached by at least one uncut segment to said second top edge; and second vertical scoring means located at said second intersection for defining a second end tab, and wherein said flap is attached to said middle top edge by: a perforated horizontal score; and an unperforated horizontal score adjacent said perforated horizontal score.