Patent Application
20220396407
The present disclosure generally relates to cartons or carriers for holding, displaying, and/or transporting containers.
According to one aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising a front portion comprising a front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a back portion comprising a back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a reinforcement portion extending from the front portion to the back portion for reinforcing the carrier.
According to another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising a front portion comprising a front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a back portion comprising a back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a reinforcement portion extending from the front portion to the back portion for reinforcing the carrier formed from the blank.
According to another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the method comprising obtaining a blank comprising a front portion, a back portion, and a reinforcement portion extending from the front portion of the blank to the back portion of the blank, the front portion comprising a front attachment panel and the back portion comprising a back attachment panel, the reinforcement portion comprising a reinforcement panel. The method further comprises positioning the front attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers to form a front portion of the carrier and positioning the back attachment panel for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers to form a back portion of the carrier, and positioning the reinforcement panel extending from the front portion of the carrier to the back portion of the carrier to reinforce the carrier.
According to another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a package, the package comprising a plurality of containers and a carrier. The carrier comprises a front portion comprising a front attachment panel at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, a back portion comprising a back attachment panel at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers, and a reinforcement portion extending from the front portion to the back portion for reinforcing the package.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the above-discussed aspects be provided both individually and in various combinations.
According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, for holding and displaying containers such as jars, bottles, cans, etc. The containers can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The containers can be made from materials suitable in composition for packaging the particular food or beverage item, and the materials include, but are not limited to, glass; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; or any combination thereof.
Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate containers of numerous different shapes. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes beverage containers (e.g., aluminum cans) at least partially disposed within the carrier embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” and “back” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers.
As described herein, carriers may be formed by multiple overlapping panels, end flaps, and/or other portions of blanks. Such panels, end flaps, and/or other portions of the blank can be designated in relative terms to one another, e.g., “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in sequential or non-sequential reference, without departing from the disclosure.
The carrier 105 can be sized and shaped to hold more or less than six containers. In one embodiment, the front portion 106 and the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 each have three containers, and in other embodiments, the front portion 106 and the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 can carry more or less than three containers without departing from the disclosure. The carrier 105 can be provided together with one or more containers as a package 110 (
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcement portion 111 of the blank 103 includes a reinforcement panel 115 interrupted by a laterally-spaced pair of handle apertures 130. The reinforcement panel 115 can have a width D along the longitudinal axis L1 defined between a pair of fold lines 133a, 133b to which the front portion 107 of the blank 103 and the back portion 109 of the blank 103 are foldably connected to the reinforcement portion 111, respectively.
While the reinforcement panel 115 is described in the illustrated embodiment as a single interrupted panel, it will be understood that such portion of the blank 103/carrier 105 can be formed from multiple cooperating panels/flaps/structures. The reinforcement portion 111 of the blank 103/reinforcement portion 113 of the carrier 105 can have a different configuration without departing from the disclosure. Furthermore, it will be understood that the reinforcement portion 111 of the blank 103/reinforcement portion 113 of the carrier 105 can be considered a central portion of the blank 103/carrier 105 and/or a portion of one of the front portion 107 of the blank 103/front portion 106 of the carrier 105 and the back portion 109 of the blank 103/back portion 108 of the carrier 105.
With continued reference to
The front attachment panel 131a can also include a container retention portion 135a that is at least partially defined between a pair of longitudinally-spaced lateral fold lines 137a, 139a that are each interrupted by a respective pair of longitudinally-spaced cuts 141a that can each include one or more curved and/or angled portions. As shown, the longitudinally-spaced cuts 141a define container retention tabs 148a that extend outwardly from the container retention portion 135a. As also shown, respective oblique cuts can extend outwardly from one or more cuts 141a that interrupt the fold line 139a. Furthermore, longitudinal cuts can extend outwardly from respective central portions of the cuts 141a.
As shown, an interior marginal portion 136a of the attachment panel 131a is defined between the fold lines 137a, 133a, and an exterior marginal portion 138a of the attachment panel 131a is defined between the fold line 139a and a lateral fold line 157a adjacent the attachment panel 131a.
A bevel or front side panel 155a, as shown, is foldably connected to the front attachment panel 131a at the lateral fold line 157a, and a front top panel 159 is foldably connected to the front side panel 155a at a lateral fold line 161a. The lateral fold line 157a can be interrupted by a plurality of the cuts 141a so as to define container retention tabs 148a protruding from the top panel 159, as described further herein.
The top panel 159, as shown, includes a pair of laterally-spaced handle openings 163 (broadly, “upper handle openings”) that are generally aligned with the respective handle apertures 130 (broadly, “lower handle openings”). A respective handle reinforcement flap 165 (broadly, “upper handle reinforcement flap”) can be foldably connected to the top panel 159 at respective longitudinal fold lines 167 and positioned to extend into the respective handle openings 163. Each handle reinforcement flap 165, as shown, can include a base portion 169 foldably connected to the top panel 159 at the respective fold lines 167, and a respective distal portion 171 foldably connected to the respective base portion 169 at a respective longitudinal fold line 173 and including a pair of oblique lines of weakening 175 intersecting the respective longitudinal fold lines 173.
In the illustrated embodiment, the back portion 109 of the blank 103 includes a back container retention panel or back attachment panel 131b and a back side panel 155b having associated features that are generally a mirror-image of the corresponding portions of the front portion 107 of the blank 103. Corresponding components (e.g., panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, etc.) have been designated by corresponding reference numbers that differ by the “a” or “b” suffix, with the “a” components corresponding to the front portion 107 of the blank 103 and the “b” components corresponding to the back portion 109 of the blank 103.
The back portion 109 of the blank 103 also includes a second top panel or attachment flap 177 foldably connected to the back side panel 155b at a lateral fold line 161b.
Any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or omitted from the blank 103 without departing from the disclosure. The blank 103 could be sized and/or shaped to accommodate more or less than six containers without departing from this disclosure.
As shown in
For example, as the front attachment panel 131a is lowered or urged downwardly onto the containers CA1, CA2, CA3 the container retention portion 135a can at least partially separate from the remainder of the front attachment panel 131a at the cuts 141a. In such an arrangement, upper or top portions T of the respective containers CA1, CA2, CA3 can extend at least partially through respective openings formed by the respective cuts 141a such that the container retention tabs 148a can sit within recessed portions of the containers CA1, CA2, CA3, e.g., recessed tops of the containers CA1, CA2, CA3 below rolled upper rims thereof.
Such reconfiguration of the corresponding portions of the back attachment panel 131b can occur as the back attachment panel 131b is lowed or urged downwardly onto the containers CB1, CB2, CB3.
The marginal portions 136a, 138a of the attachment panel 131a can fold at least partially downwardly at the respective fold lines 137a, 139a in such a configuration, and, similarly, the marginal portions 136b, 138b of the attachment panel 131b can fold at least partially downwardly at the respective fold lines 137b, 139b. In this regard, the marginal portions 136a, 138a can be obliquely arranged relative to the attachment portion 135a of the attachment panel 131a and the marginal portions 136b, 138b can be obliquely arranged relative to the attachment portion 135b of the attachment panel 131b. Such movement can cause reconfiguration of the outer marginal portion 138a of the front attachment panel 131a to reconfigure at the respective cuts 143a, 145a, 146a to engage a rolled rim or other top structure of the respective containers CA1, CA2, CA3.
The back attachment panel 131b and corresponding container retention portion 135b can engage the containers CB1, CB2, CB3 in a manner similar to that described above with respect to the engagement of the front attachment panel 131a and container retention portion 135a with respect to the containers CA1, CA2, CA3.
Still referring to
Similarly, the back side panel 155b can be folded upwardly at the fold line 157b into an oblique arrangement with the attachment portion 135b of the attachment panel 131b, and the attachment flap 177 can be folded at the fold line 161b into at least partial face-to-face contact with the top panel 159 and/or the attachment panel 131b. Such movement of the attachment flap 177 can cause engagement with the containers CB1, CB2, CB3 in a manner similar to that described above with regard to the engagement of the top panel 159 with the containers CA1, CA2, CA3.
This positioning of the top panel 159 can align the handle openings 163 with the respective handle apertures 130 therebelow to facilitate engagement with the carrier 105/package 110 by a customer or other user. The aforementioned arrangement of the carrier 105 can be maintained with one or more applications of an adhesive such as glue, or, in embodiments, the carrier 105 can be devoid of glue.
Accordingly, in the formed carrier 105 as shown in
Furthermore, the positioning of the reinforcement panel 115 extending from the front portion 106 of the carrier 105 to the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 provides reinforcement to the carrier 105 in the course of movement or other loading, e.g., transportation, storage, carrying, incidental to use, etc. In this regard, the arrangement of reinforcement panel 115 spaced below the top panels 159, 177/attachment portions 135a, 135b and in generally parallel relation thereto provides the carrier 105 with an increased capacity to minimize, inhibit, avoid, prevent, and/or otherwise resist bending, bowing, flexing, buckling, curling, deflection, and/or other deformation.
In one embodiment, the arrangement of the reinforcement panel 115 extending from the obliquely-arranged interior marginal portion 136a of the front portion 106 of the carrier 105 to the obliquely-arranged interior marginal portion 136b of the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 can provide an arch-like construction that tends to resolve applied forces into compressive stresses outwardly away from the reinforcement panel 115, e.g., so as to favorably distribute stresses along the carrier 105.
Still referring to
The package 110/carrier 105 described above has a compact structure that can, for example, provide materials savings and waste reduction. Additionally, the positioning of the reinforcement panel 115 between the front portion 106 and the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 results in a robust structure for holding and carrying the containers CA1, CA2, CA3, CB1, CB2, CB3. Further, the exposure of one or more portions of the containers CA1, CA2, CA3, CB1, CB2, CB3 on exterior portions of the carrier 105/package 110 provides a consumer with a clear view of labeling or surface graphics associated with the containers CA1, CA2, CA3, CB1, CB2, CB3 as well as providing convenient access to remove one or more of the containers CA1, CA2, CA3, CB1, CB2, CB3 from the carrier 105/package 110, for example, by withdrawing a respective container through the respective cuts 141a, 141b to disengage the container from the respective panel 131a, 131b, 159, 177.
It will be understood that the blanks and carriers described herein can be provided in different configurations without departing from the disclosure. For example, the blanks and carriers described herein can be sized and provided with a corresponding number of features suitable to engage a desired number and configuration of containers.
In general, the blank may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier to function at least generally as described above. The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carrier embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carrier panels in place.
The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various exemplary embodiments. Various additions, modifications, changes, etc., could be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/208,568, filed on Jun. 9, 2021. The disclosures of each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/208,568, filed on Jun. 9, 2021, and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/838,182, filed on May 11, 2022, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63208568 | Jun 2021 | US |
