Patent Application
20190225398
The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/620,537, which was filed on Jan. 23, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to cartons or carriers, blanks for forming cartons or carriers, and methods associated with cartons or carriers and associated blanks for holding and carrying at least one article. In one embodiment, the present disclosure relates to a carrier having handle features to facilitate carrying of the carrier.
According to one aspect of the disclosure, a carrier for holding at least one article comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel. The carrier further comprises a handle that comprises at least one handle feature in the top panel, the at least one handle feature comprises a plurality of foldably connected handle sections that comprises a first outer section and a second outer section each foldably connected to a central section. The at least one handle feature is positionable between a first, substantially flat configuration and a second, substantially recessed configuration wherein the handle is activated for carrying the carrier.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a blank for forming a carrier for holding at least one article comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel. The blank further comprises at least one handle feature in the top panel for forming a handle of the carrier formed from the blank, and the at least one handle feature comprises a plurality of foldably connected handle sections that comprises a first outer section and a second outer section each foldably connected to a central section. The at least one handle feature is positionable between a first, substantially flat configuration and a second, substantially recessed configuration wherein the handle is activated for carrying the carrier formed from the According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of forming a carrier for holding at least one article comprises obtaining a blank, the blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel. The blank further comprises at least one handle feature in the top panel for forming a handle, the at least one handle feature comprises a plurality of foldably connected handle sections that comprises a first outer section and second outer section each foldably connected to a central section. The method further comprises folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the carrier and such that the at least one handle feature is positionable between a first, substantially flat configuration and a second, substantially recessed configuration wherein the handle is activated for carrying the carrier.
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.
Cartons or carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate articles 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 articles such as containers, bottles, cans, etc., that at least partially disposed within the carton or carrier embodiments. The articles can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The articles 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; aluminum and/or other metals; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like, or any combination thereof.
Cartons or carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate articles of any shape. 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 beverage cans or glass bottles) as disposed within the carton or carrier embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright cartons or carriers. As described herein, cartons or carriers may be formed from blanks by overlapping multiple portions, panels, and/or end flaps. Such portions, panels, and/or end flaps may be designated herein in terms relative to one another, e.g., “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in sequential or non-sequential reference, without departing from the disclosure.
The blank 3, as shown, has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. The blank 3 includes a top panel 25 with handle features 7, 9, as described further herein. As shown, the top panel 25 is foldably connected to a first upper side panel 27 and a second upper side panel 29 at respective lateral fold lines 31, 33. As shown, a first lower side panel 35 is foldably connected to the first upper side panel 27 at a lateral fold line 37, and a second lower side panel 39 is foldably connected to the second upper side panel 29 at a lateral fold line 41. As also shown, a bottom panel 43 is foldably connected to the first lower side panel 35 at a lateral fold line 45. An attachment flap 47 can be foldably attached to the bottom panel 43 at a lateral fold line 49, as shown.
As shown in
As shown, the handle feature 7 includes a plurality of handle portions or sections 91, 93, 95, with the central section 93 (broadly, “first central section”) being centrally disposed between the two longitudinally marginal or outer sections 91 (broadly, “first outer section”), 95 (broadly, “second outer section”). As shown, the central section 93 is foldably connected to the outer section 91 at a curved fold line 97 (broadly, “first curved fold line”) and the central section 93 is foldably connected to the outer section 95 at a curved fold line 99 (broadly, “second curved fold line”). In the illustrated embodiment, the curved fold lines 97, 99 each extend from the curved fold line 87 to a free edge of the top panel 25 such that the curved fold line 87 is a common curved fold line (broadly, “first common curved fold line”) at which the central section 93 and the outer sections 91, 95 are foldably connected to a body portion 26 of the top panel 25. As shown, each of the outer sections 91, 95 includes laterally marginal portions 92, 96 thereof that present respective locking edges 101, 103. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the curved fold lines 97, 99 has a generally convex configuration with reference to a lateral centerline CL2 of the top panel 25, e.g., each curved fold line 97, 99 extends toward its respective endpoints in a direction extending away from the lateral centerline CL2. In this regard, and as shown, the central section 93 has a configuration that generally tapers from the fold line 87 to the free edge of the top panel 25.
Still referring to
The handle feature 9 can have similarly-configured features to the handle features 7 described above. In particular, the handle feature 9 includes a central section 119 (broadly, “second central handle section”), and two outer sections 117 (broadly, “third outer handle section”), 121 (broadly, “fourth outer handle section”), with the central section 119 foldably connected to the outer sections 117, 121 at a respective curved fold lines 123, 125 that are convex relative to the lateral centerline CL2. The sections 117, 119, 121 of handle feature 9 are each foldably connected to a portion of the curved fold line 89 such that the fold line 89 is a common curved fold line (broadly, “second common curved fold line”). Outer sections 117, 121 have respective marginal portions 118, 120 with respective locking edges 127, 129, and tabs 131, 133 are foldably connected to the respective outer sections 117, 121 at respective fold lines 135, 137. The locking edges 127, 129 are at least partially defined by and are at least partially separated from the respective tabs 131, 133 at respective curved cuts 139, 141. One or both of the handle features 7, 9 can be differently-configured without departing from the disclosure.
Turning additionally to
Still referring to
In this regard, and as shown, each end 13, 15 of the carrier 5 defines a respective opening 17, 19 along an upper portion thereof into the interior 11 of the carrier 5, for example, to view portions of one or more articles A (such as to provide graphics and/or labeling that includes marketing, pricing, and/or other identifying or descriptive information) and/or to access portions of the one or more articles A, for example, to facilitate removal thereof from the carrier 5.
Referring additionally to
In one configuration, as shown, the central section 93 of the handle feature 7 can be pressed downwardly to at least partially fold at the fold line 87 into substantially oblique or substantially perpendicular arrangement with the body portion 26 of the top panel 25. Such movement of the central section 93 causes the respective outer sections 91, 95 to become downwardly disposed relative to the body portion 26 of the top panel 25 and obliquely disposed relative to the central section 93 by folding at the respective fold line 87 and the curved fold line 97, and at the fold line 87 and the curved fold line 99, respectively, to form the recessed configuration of the handle 6. In such an arrangement, locking edges 101, 103 can engage ridges in the caps C of the articles A to lock or maintain the arrangement of the handle feature 7 in the activated position. In such a configuration of the handle feature 7, the sections 91, 93, 95 may engage a portion of a user's fingers, for example, by at least partially hugging, clamping, and/or clasping around a user's fingers in a non-injurious fashion, such that the user is provided with a comfortable and secured engagement of the carrier 5 upon engagement of the handle feature 7. The tabs 105, 107 are positioned to rest upon the caps C of the articles A as described above. In this regard, the handle feature 7 is configured to transition between a first, substantially flat configuration, and a second, activated or substantially recessed configuration as described above.
The handle feature 9 can be engaged and activated by a user from a first, flat configuration to a second, recessed configuration in a similar manner as described above with respect to the handle feature 7, for example, so that the central section 119 is pressed downwardly to at least partially fold at the fold line 89 into substantially oblique or substantially perpendicular arrangement with the body portion 26 of the top panel 25, and with the outer sections 117, 119 downwardly disposed relative to the body portion 26 of the top panel 25 and obliquely disposed relative to the central section 103 by folding at the respective fold line 89 and the curved fold line 123 and at the fold line 89 and the curved fold line 125 to form the recessed configuration of the handle 6. The locking edges 127, 129 can engage ridges in the caps C of the articles A to lock or maintain the handle feature 9 in an activated position. In the activated position, the respective tabs 131, 133 are positioned to rest upon the caps C of the articles A as described above with respect to the handle feature 7. In the activated position of the handle 6, the body portion 26 of the top panel 25 between the fold lines 87, 89 can be generally arched upwardly between the side panels 27, 29 to facilitate grasping the handle 6, for example, by contacting a portion of a user's hand.
It will be understood that one or both of the handle features 7, 9 can have a different pattern of deformation, or that the patterns of deformation described above can occur differently, e.g., in a different order, without departing from the disclosure.
Turning now to
As shown, the blank 203 includes a top panel 225 having a handle 206 comprising handle features 207, 209.
As shown, the handle feature 207 includes a plurality of sections 291, 293, 295, with the central section 293 (broadly, “first central section”) being centrally disposed between longitudinally marginal or outer sections 291 (broadly, “first outer section”), 295 (broadly, “second outer section”). As shown, the central section 293 is foldably connected to the outer section 291 at a curved fold line 297 and the central section 293 is foldably connected to the outer section 295 at a curved fold line 299. In the illustrated embodiment, the curved fold lines 297, 299 each extend between the curved edge 283 and the fold line 287 such that the fold line 287 is a common curved fold line (broadly, “first common fold line”) at which each of the sections 291, 293, 295 are foldably connected to a body portion 226 of the top panel 225. As shown, each of the curved fold lines 297, 299 has a generally convex configuration relative to a lateral centerline CL4 of the top panel 225, e.g., each curved fold line 297, 299 extends toward respective endpoints in a direction extending away from the lateral centerline CL4. In this regard, and as shown, the central section 293 has a configuration that generally tapers from the fold line 287 to the curved edge 283. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer sections 291, 293 are defined by a portion of the curved edge 283, a portion of the curved fold line 287 and a respective curved fold line 297, 299. The sections 291, 293, 295 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
Still referring to
Turning additionally to
In one configuration, as shown, the central section 293 of the handle feature 207 can be pressed downwardly or inwardly to at least partially fold at the fold line 287 into substantially oblique or substantially perpendicular arrangement with the body portion 226 of the top panel 225. Such movement of the central section 293 causes the respective outer sections 291, 295 to become downwardly disposed relative to the body portion 226 of the top panel 225 and obliquely disposed relative to the central section 293 by folding at the respective fold line 287 and the curved fold line 297, and at the fold line 287 and the curved fold line 299, respectively, to form the recessed configuration of the handle 206. In the activated configuration of the handle 206, the sections 291, 293, 295 may engage a portion of a user's fingers, for example, by at least partially hugging, clamping, and/or clasping around a user's fingers in a non-injurious fashion, such that the user is provided with a secured engagement of the carrier 205 upon engagement of the handle feature 207. In this regard, the handle feature 207 is configured to transition between a first, substantially flat configuration, and a second, activated configuration as described above.
The handle feature 209 of the handle 206 can be engaged and activated by a user from a first, flat configuration to a second, activated configuration in a similar manner as described above with respect to the handle feature 207, for example, so that the central section 303 is pressed downwardly to at least partially fold at the fold line 289 into substantially oblique or substantially perpendicular arrangement with the body portion 226 of the top panel 225, and with the sections 301, 305 downwardly disposed relative to the top panel 225 and obliquely disposed relative to the section 303 by folding at the respective fold line 289 and the curved fold line 307, and at the fold line 289 and the curved fold line 309, respectively, to form the recessed configuration of the handle 206. In the activated position of the handle 206, the body portion 226 of the top panel 225 is generally arched upwardly between the side panels 27, 29 to facilitate grasping the handle 206, for example, by contacting the palm of a user's hand.
It will be understood that one or both of the handle features 207, 209 of the handle 206 can have a different pattern of deformation, or that the patterns of deformation described above can occur differently, e.g., in a different order, without departing from the disclosure.
As described herein, the handle features 207, 209 provide the carrier 205 with an at least partially deformable structure that provides one or more engagement surfaces for carrying of the carrier 205. Following an initial deformation of the handle features 207, 209 as described above, the handle 206 may be configured to remain in such deformed or activated configuration for subsequent use, for example, due to the engagement of one or both of the edges 283, 285 with respective portions of the articles A, e.g., the caps C. In one embodiment, one or both of the handle features 207, 209 can have, an at least partially resilient configuration, for example, such that one or both of the handle features 207, 209 can be biased or otherwise configured to return from a deformed or activated position to a non-deformed or flat configuration.
The blanks according to the present disclosure can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks 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 blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank. In accordance with the above-described embodiments, the blanks may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier to function at least generally as described herein. The blanks can also be laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding there along. 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 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.
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.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton or carrier embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton or 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. 62/620,537, which was filed on Jan. 23, 2018.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62620537 | Jan 2018 | US |
