Clip for holding carton flaps open and method of use

A method for holding lid flaps of a carton in an open position;

• the carton including:
• at least two walls attached to each other;
• each wall including a top edge, a side edge, an inner face, and an outer face;
• the walls being attached to each other along their adjoining side edges to form a corner;
• the corner including an interior dihedral angle formed by the inner faces of the attached walls and an exterior dihedral angle formed by the outer faces of the attached walls;
• the carton further including a lid comprising at least a first flap and a second flap;
• each flap including an attached edge attached to the top edge of a wall of the carton and hingedly moveable between a closed position and an open position wherein the flap is alongside the outer face of its attached wall;
• providing a clip including a spine;
• the spine including:
• a first end;
• a second end;
• and a middle portion between the first and second ends;
• a long prong attached to the first end of the spine and extending downward, for holding the first lid flap in an open position;
• a short prong that is shorter than the long prong, attached to the second end of the spine and extending downward, for holding the second lid flap in an open position;
• and a center post for insertion into an interior dihedral corner of the carton, attached to the middle portion of the spine and extending downward;
• the long prong and the short prong spaced apart from the center post by a distance sufficient to allow each prong to hold a flap in an open position;
• holding the clip above a corner of the carton;
• lowering the clip until the slide means of the long prong contacts and pushes against the first lid flap and such that the center post is disposed in the interior dihedral angle of the corner;
• lowering the clip until the slide means of the short prong contacts and pushes against the second lid flap;
• and
• lowering the clip until the first and second lid flaps are in the open position.

In combination:

• a carton including:
• four walls attached to each other to define an inside volume that is a rectangular prism;
• each said wall including:
• a top edge;
• two side edges;
• an inner face facing said inside volume;
• and
• an outer face facing outward;
• each said wall being attached to another said wall along their adjoining said side edges to form a corner;
• said corner including:
• an interior dihedral angle formed by said inner faces of said two attached walls;
• and
• an exterior dihedral angle formed by said outer faces of said two attached walls;
• a lid comprising:
• a plurality of flaps;
• each said flap including:
• an attached edge attached to said top edge of
• a said wall of said carton and hingedly moveable between a closed position and an open position wherein the flap is alongside the outer face of its attached said wall;
• and
• a clip for holding two flaps adjacent a corner in an open position;
• said clip including:
• a spine;
• including:
• a first end;
• a second end;
• and
• a middle portion between said first and second ends;
• a long prong attached to said first end of said spine and extending downward, for holding the first lid flap in an open position;
• a short prong attached to said second end of said spine and extending downward, for holding the second lid flap in an open position;
• said short prong being shorter than said long prong;
• and
• a center post for insertion into an interior dihedral corner of the carton, attached to said middle portion of said spine and extending downward;
• said center post being substantially equal in length to said long prong;
• and said long as prong and said short prong spaced apart from said center post by a distance sufficient to allow each said prong to hold a flap in an open position.