Paperboard carton cutting tool

#This invention relates generally to hand tools for opening cartons and, more particularly, to a tool for cutting a fixed portion of a peaked top from a paperboard carton.

#Paperboard cartons of the type having inwardly and upwardly sloping side panels and inwardly folded spout-forming panels forming a peaked top have become very popular for dispensing beverages such as milk and juice. The peaked top is typically glued together to prevent undesired unfolding of the spout-forming panels. In addition, the entire carton may be coated with a sealant such as paraffin to make the carton waterproof. The glued and coated multi-ply peaked top must be torn open or separated to enable a user to drink therefrom. This is often a difficult task and is especially challenging for persons having reduced dexterity or strength in their hands and fingers, such as elderly or disabled persons.

#Many devices have been proposed in the art for cutting the peaked top off of a carton so that the spout-forming panels may be easily unfolded. In particular, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,803,713, 4,291,461, and 4,835,860 disclose such devices. While assumably effective for their intended purposes, existing devices do not adequately provide for stabilizing the peaked top prior to severing it from the carton.

#Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton cutting tool according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton cutting tool as in FIG. 1 in an inverted orientation;

#A carton cutting tool 10 for cutting a portion of the peaked top of a paperboard carton so as to ease the opening thereof according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the attached drawings.

#The carton cutting tool 10 includes a first blade 20 having proximal 22 and distal 24 ends relative to a user holding the tool 10. The cutting tool 10 further includes a second blade 40 having proximal 42 and distal 44 ends, the second blade 40 having a length substantially equal to a length of the first blade 20. The cutting tool 10 also includes first 60 and second 62 handles that are curved inwardly toward one another. Proximal ends 22, 42 of the first 20 and second 40 blades are fixedly attached to distal ends of first 60 and second 62 handles. The distal end 44 of the second blade 40 is pivotally connected to the distal end 24 of the first blade 20 with a rivet 45 although the connection may be with a bolt/nut combination, pin, or other suitable fastener. Therefore, the second blade 40 is pivotally movable between a closed configuration closely overlying the first blade 20 (FIG. 1) and an open configuration in which the longitudinal portions of the blades are offset approximately 90 degrees from one another (FIG. 3). The second blade 40 is moved between open and closed configurations in response to a corresponding user movement of the second handle 62. All edges of the blades are blunt except as particularly noted below.

#The first blade 20 defines a slot 26 extending longitudinally substantially between proximal 22 and distal 24 ends thereof. The slot 26 presents a width dimension suitable to receive a multi-ply peaked top 14 of a paperboard carton 12 therethrough (FIG. 3). The longitudinal edge 28 of the slot 26 most distant from the second blade 40 when considering the second blade 40 in the open configuration presents a sharp cutting edge (FIG. 2). The first blade 20 further includes an upstanding flange 30 integrally extending from the distal end 24 thereof for limiting the pivotal movement of the second blade 40 relative to the first blade 20 (FIG. 3).