Wrap-around carrier packages are typically formed by wrapping a carrier blank around a group of containers and securing the ends of the blank together. The containers are held in place by the tightly wrapped carrier and also, typically, by heel cutouts through which the bottom portions of the containers extend. In conventional wrap-around carrier packages, however, handles are not provided, or when handles are provided, they typically reduce the integrity of the package.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, a carrier package comprises a carrier having a top panel, a first side panel connected to the top panel, a second side panel connected to the top panel and disposed on a side of the carrier package opposite to the first side panel, a bottom panel, and at least partially open first and second ends. A plurality of containers are accommodated in the carrier package. One or more handles features are formed in the top panel. The handle features allow deformation of the edges of the top panel, which allows a user to easily lift and carry the carrier package. The handle features may be designed to allow deformation of the top panel without tearing, so that the integrity of the carrier package is not overly compromised.
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.
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 invention.
The blank 8 comprises a bottom panel 10 foldably connected to a first side panel 20 at a first transverse fold line 21, a top panel 30 foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at a second transverse fold line 31, and a second side panel 40 foldably connected to the top panel 30 at a third transverse fold line 41. An adhesive flap 80 may be foldably connected to the bottom panel 10 at a fourth transverse fold line 81. Alternatively, an adhesive flap may be connected to the second side panel 40 at the opposite end of the blank 8. The top panel 30 may have, for example, a generally square or rectangular shape with one or more rounded, beveled or truncated corners 33. The bottom panel 10 may be, for example, generally square or rectangular.
A bottom end flap 12 may be foldably connected to each end of the bottom panel 10 at longitudinal fold lines 14. The bottom end flaps 12 serve to partially close the ends of the carrier package 150 (illustrated in
According to one aspect of the present invention, one or more handle features 60 may be formed in the top panel 30 for lifting, grasping and/or carrying of the carrier package 150. In the illustrated embodiment, two handle features 60 are formed in the top panel 30, one handle feature 60 being formed at each end edge of the top panel 30. In the exemplary embodiment, each handle feature 60 comprises a perimeter line of disruption in the form of a curved or arcuate line 62, with the perimeter line 62 delimiting a handle section 67. In
The perimeter lines 62 and the intermediate lines 64 may be designed to allow deformation of the top panel 30 at the lines of disruption 62, 64, while not actually promoting tearing of the top panel 30 at the lines 62, 64. The lines 62, 64 may be, for example, fold lines, score lines, crease lines, cut-space lines, combinations thereof, or other lines of disruption in the blank 8 allowing the top panel 30 to be deformed at the handle features 60. The perimeter lines 62 may be, for example, continuous, substantially continuous or discontinuous in the blank 8. The lines 66 can be cuts (e.g. slits) or scores at the apex of the perimeter lines 62 that facilitate pivoting of the handle section 67 when the top panel 30 is grasped at the handle features 60.
According to one exemplary method, the carrier package 150 can be erected from the blank 8 by lying the blank flat, and placing a plurality of containers C (shown in
According to an alternative method of erection, the adhesive flap 80 may be pre-glued to the second side panel 40 by folding at the transverse fold lines 21, 41 so that the exterior side of the adhesive flap 80 contacts the interior side of the second side panel 40 and is adhered thereto. The pre-glued blank 8 may then be opened up into a generally tubular form, and the containers C transversely loaded into the tubular form through an open end of the blank. The open ends of the tubular form may then be closed by the web panels 51, 56 and the bottom end flaps 12.
Referring to
As shown in
The exemplary carrier package 150 is illustrated as accommodating generally cylindrical 8.3 fluid ounce beverage cans. Other types of containers, however, can be accommodated within carrier packages according to the present invention. Generally cylindrical 12 ounce beverage cans, for example, could be used. The dimensions of the blank 8 may generally be altered to accommodate various container forms.
Additional containers C can be accommodated in a carrier package according to principles of the present invention, for example, by adjusting the length of the blank 8. For example, the top panel 30, the bottom panel 10 and the bottom end flaps 12 can be lengthened along the longitudinal direction of the blank 8 (measured from left to right in
The blank according to the present invention can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blank can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blank. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the blank may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier package to function at least generally as described above. The blank can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
For purposes of the description presented herein, the term “line of disruption” can be used to generally refer to, for example, cut lines, score lines, crease lines, tear lines, fold lines, and combinations thereof, formed in a blank.
A fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of disruption or weakening in the blank that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, examples of fold lines include: score lines; crease lines; a cut or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along a desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.
The above embodiment may be described as having one or panels adhered together by glue. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure various portions of the blank.
The description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Also, it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments, not explicitly defined in the detailed description.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/758,339, filed Jan. 12, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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