The present disclosure generally relates to carriers or cartons for holding and displaying containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to basket-style carriers.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier comprises a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carrier. The plurality of panels can comprise at least a front panel and a side panel. A central panel can at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion, and the side panel can extend at least partially between the front panel and the central panel. A handle can comprise a handle feature extending in at least the side panel.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers. The blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel. A central panel can be for at least partially dividing the carrier formed from the blank into a front portion and a back portion. The side panel can be for extending at least partially between the front panel and the central panel when the carrier is formed from the blank. A handle can comprise a handle feature extending in at least the side panel.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carrier for containing a plurality of containers. The method comprises obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, a central panel, and a handle feature. The plurality of panels can comprise at least a front panel and a side panel. The handle feature can extend in at least the side panel. The method further can comprise forming an interior of the carrier by positioning the panels of the plurality of panels to extend at least partially around the interior of the carrier and positioning the central panel to at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion. The side panel can extend at least partially between the front panel and the central panel. The handle feature can at least partially form a handle in the carrier.
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 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, plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; glass; 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., glass and/or aluminum bottles or plastic containers) at least partially disposed within the carrier embodiments. In this specification, the terms “inner,” “interior,” “outer,” “exterior,” “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” “forward,” “back,” and “rearward” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers.
The carrier blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral or transverse axis L2. The carrier blank 3 has a front portion 9, a back portion 11, a bottom panel 12 foldably connected to the front portion and the back portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion 9 and back portion 11 are for being folded about a lateral centerline CL (
In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion 9, comprises a front panel 15a foldably connected to a first side panel 17a and a second side panel 19a. A front central flap 27a is foldably connected to the first side panel 17a at a longitudinal fold line 29a. Longitudinal fold lines 31a, 33a foldably connect the respective first and second side panel 17a, 19a to the front panel 15a. A lateral fold line 35a connects the bottom panel 12 to the front panel 15a.
As shown in
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the features of the back portion 11 of the blank 3 include a back panel 15b, a first side panel 17b, and a second side panel 19b, that are generally a mirror-image of the corresponding panel or flap of the front portion 9. A back central flap 27b is also similarly configured to (e.g., generally a mirror image of) the front central flap 27a, and a back central panel 41b is similarly configured to (e.g., generally a mirror image of) the front central panel 41a. Additionally, back divider flaps 47b, 51b and attachment flaps 55b, 57b are similarly configured to (e.g., generally a mirror image of) the front divider flaps 47a, 51a and attachment flaps 55a, 57a. Further, a back reinforcing structure 70b, including reinforcing panels 73b, 75b, 77b, 79b, 81b, is similarly configured to (e.g., generally a mirror image of) the front reinforcing structure 70a, including respective reinforcing panels 73a, 75a, 77a, 79a, 81a. Alternatively, one or more of the features of the back portion 11 could be different than the respective feature(s) of the front portion 9. 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 9 and the “b” components corresponding to the back portion 11 of the blank 3.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the features that form the handles 7, 8 can include handle features formed in the front side panels 17a, 19a, back side panels 17b, 19b, and side reinforcing panels 75a, 77a, 75b, 77b. As shown in
Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, handle features 114a for forming the handle 8 can include a first handle flap 115a foldably connected to the second side panel 19a along a lateral fold line 117a adjacent an opening 119a. The first handle flap 115a can be separable from the second side panel 19a along a curved tear or cut line 121a and from the front central panel 41a along a longitudinal tear or cut line 123a. As shown in
As shown in
Any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured in the blank 3 without departing from the disclosure. The blank 3 could be sized and/or shaped to accommodate more or less than six containers C without departing from this disclosure.
With reference to
As shown in
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the partially assembled blank 3 of
The flattened carrier of
As shown in
In one embodiment, containers C (
One or both of the handles 7, 8 can be actuated for carrying the carrier 5 by, for example, folding the respective handle panels 101a, 101b, 115a, 115b along the respective fold lines 103a, 103b, 117a, 117b and through the aligned handle openings 111a, 111b, 125a, 125b to form handle openings 136 on either side of the bulkhead 130 at either end 132, 134 (e.g.,
In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing structures 70a, 70b can reinforce the handles 7, 8 at the ends 132, 134 of the carrier 5 and generally can reinforcing the top portion of the carrier 5.
In the illustrated embodiment the carrier 5 can have a generally rectangular configuration (e.g., generally parallelpipedal in shape) with an open top so that the containers C (
The exemplary carrier embodiment discussed above accommodates six containers C arranged in two rows, but the present disclosure is not limited to these numbers. As one example, additional containers may be accommodated by increasing the size of the blank 3 and forming additional container-receiving spaces therein. Also, the carrier 5 could have less than six container-receiving spaces.
The panels, flaps, and dividers shown and described in conjunction with the blank 3 and the carrier 5 are included by way of example. The handles 7, 8, the reinforcing structures 70a, 70b, and/or other features of the disclosure can alternatively be associated with any basket-style carrier or other carton having any divider or panel configuration.
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 or carton 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. 62/124,599, filed on Dec. 23, 2014. The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/124,599, which was filed on Dec. 23, 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2222211 | Arneson | Nov 1940 | A |
2225822 | Crook | Dec 1940 | A |
2227330 | Turner | Dec 1940 | A |
2331312 | Dorfman | Oct 1943 | A |
2336857 | Gies et al. | Dec 1943 | A |
2457308 | Hall et al. | Dec 1948 | A |
2458281 | Lupton | Jan 1949 | A |
2460108 | Smith et al. | Jan 1949 | A |
2525686 | Kowal | Oct 1950 | A |
2535741 | Lighter | Dec 1950 | A |
2537615 | Arneson | Jan 1951 | A |
2660361 | Tyrseck | Nov 1953 | A |
2689061 | Gray | Sep 1954 | A |
2721001 | Hasselhoff | Oct 1955 | A |
2772020 | Kramer | Nov 1956 | A |
2776072 | Forrer | Jan 1957 | A |
2783916 | Hodapp | Mar 1957 | A |
2887245 | Levkoff | May 1959 | A |
2977021 | Shiels, Jr. | Mar 1961 | A |
2991908 | Conescu | Jul 1961 | A |
2993619 | Arneson | Jul 1961 | A |
3029977 | Arneson | Apr 1962 | A |
3053411 | Struble et al. | Sep 1962 | A |
3128906 | Forrer | Apr 1964 | A |
3190487 | Wood | Jun 1965 | A |
3191800 | Kowal | Jun 1965 | A |
3194478 | Weiss | Jul 1965 | A |
3229849 | Spillson | Jan 1966 | A |
3236414 | Slevin, Jr. | Feb 1966 | A |
3313466 | Keith | Apr 1967 | A |
3343742 | Siegler | Sep 1967 | A |
3352452 | Graser | Nov 1967 | A |
3373917 | Cox | Mar 1968 | A |
3432073 | Forrer | Mar 1969 | A |
3554401 | Wood | Jan 1971 | A |
3572544 | Forrer | Mar 1971 | A |
3579653 | Kuhn | May 1971 | A |
3624790 | Stout | Nov 1971 | A |
3661297 | Wood | May 1972 | A |
3669306 | Forrer | Jun 1972 | A |
3672539 | Forrer | Jun 1972 | A |
3709400 | Arneson | Jan 1973 | A |
3721335 | Grant | Mar 1973 | A |
3722738 | Wright | Mar 1973 | A |
3754680 | Wood | Aug 1973 | A |
3384053 | Stout | Jan 1974 | A |
3794210 | Stout | Feb 1974 | A |
3860113 | Helms | Jan 1975 | A |
3893565 | Rossi et al. | Jul 1975 | A |
3917059 | Wood | Nov 1975 | A |
3917060 | Wood | Nov 1975 | A |
3917061 | Stout | Nov 1975 | A |
4000813 | Stout | Jan 1977 | A |
4010847 | Wood et al. | Mar 1977 | A |
4029205 | Wood | Jun 1977 | A |
4153158 | Graser et al. | May 1979 | A |
4171046 | Bonczyk | Oct 1979 | A |
4187944 | Wood | Feb 1980 | A |
4205748 | Wilson | Jun 1980 | A |
4217983 | Stout | Aug 1980 | A |
4243138 | Wilson | Jan 1981 | A |
4250992 | Gilbert | Feb 1981 | A |
4253564 | Engdahl, Jr. | Mar 1981 | A |
4293091 | Gerard | Oct 1981 | A |
4308950 | Wood | Jan 1982 | A |
4318470 | Montealegre | Mar 1982 | A |
4319682 | Wright et al. | Mar 1982 | A |
4362240 | Elward | Dec 1982 | A |
4374561 | Stout et al. | Feb 1983 | A |
4377252 | Schillinger | Mar 1983 | A |
4406365 | Kulig | Sep 1983 | A |
4413729 | Wood | Nov 1983 | A |
4450956 | Wood | May 1984 | A |
4469222 | Graser | Sep 1984 | A |
4480746 | Wood | Nov 1984 | A |
4482055 | Boyle | Nov 1984 | A |
4509640 | Joyce | Apr 1985 | A |
4544092 | Palmer | Oct 1985 | A |
4591090 | Collins et al. | May 1986 | A |
4610349 | Schwartz et al. | Sep 1986 | A |
4722437 | Walsh | Feb 1988 | A |
4770294 | Graser | Sep 1988 | A |
4782943 | Blackman | Nov 1988 | A |
4782944 | Engdahl, Jr. | Nov 1988 | A |
4792038 | Cooper | Dec 1988 | A |
4852731 | Cooper | Aug 1989 | A |
4927009 | Stout | May 1990 | A |
4972944 | McNeill | Nov 1990 | A |
5029698 | Stout | Jul 1991 | A |
5040672 | DeMaio et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5072876 | Wilson | Dec 1991 | A |
5123588 | Harris | Jun 1992 | A |
5161732 | Clein et al. | Nov 1992 | A |
5167325 | Sykora | Dec 1992 | A |
5191976 | Stout et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5221001 | Eisman | Jun 1993 | A |
5234103 | Schuster | Aug 1993 | A |
5246113 | Schuster | Sep 1993 | A |
5282348 | Dampier et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
5359830 | Olson et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5363954 | Dampier et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5400901 | Harrelson | Mar 1995 | A |
5458234 | Harris | Oct 1995 | A |
5482203 | Stout | Jan 1996 | A |
5484053 | Harris | Jan 1996 | A |
5499712 | Harrelson | Mar 1996 | A |
5518110 | Harrelson | May 1996 | A |
5531319 | Harrelson | Jul 1996 | A |
5538130 | Harrelson | Jul 1996 | A |
5538131 | Harrelson | Jul 1996 | A |
5547074 | Plaxico et al. | Aug 1996 | A |
5579625 | Olson et al. | Dec 1996 | A |
5579904 | Holley, Jr. | Dec 1996 | A |
5590762 | Harrelson | Jan 1997 | A |
5593027 | Sutherland | Jan 1997 | A |
5611425 | Holley, Jr. | Mar 1997 | A |
5620094 | Naumann | Apr 1997 | A |
5638956 | Sutherland | Jun 1997 | A |
5645162 | Harrelson | Jul 1997 | A |
5649620 | Harrelson | Jul 1997 | A |
5657864 | Harrelson | Aug 1997 | A |
5657865 | Harrelson | Aug 1997 | A |
5680930 | Stone | Oct 1997 | A |
5682982 | Stonehouse | Nov 1997 | A |
5682985 | Plaxico et al. | Nov 1997 | A |
5695051 | Hart | Dec 1997 | A |
5709298 | Harris | Jan 1998 | A |
D394205 | Bates | May 1998 | S |
5765685 | Roosa | Jun 1998 | A |
5775487 | Harrelson | Jul 1998 | A |
5819920 | Sutherland | Oct 1998 | A |
5855316 | Spivey | Jan 1999 | A |
5871090 | Doucette et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5878877 | Sutherland | Mar 1999 | A |
5884756 | Holley, Jr. et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5941377 | Haft et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5947273 | Dalrymple et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5979645 | Holley | Nov 1999 | A |
6003665 | Stout | Dec 1999 | A |
6041920 | Hart et al. | Mar 2000 | A |
6102197 | Negelen | Aug 2000 | A |
6112977 | Sutherland et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6131729 | Eckermann et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6155962 | Dalrymple et al. | Dec 2000 | A |
6168013 | Gomes | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6230881 | Collura | May 2001 | B1 |
6247585 | Holley, Jr. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6315111 | Sutherland | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6321906 | Wein | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6341689 | Jones | Jan 2002 | B1 |
6371287 | Jones et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6571941 | Holley, Jr. | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6695137 | Jones et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6736260 | Gomes et al. | May 2004 | B2 |
6802802 | Woog | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6814228 | Sutherland | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6938756 | Schuster | Sep 2005 | B2 |
7011209 | Sutherland et al. | Mar 2006 | B2 |
7025197 | Sutherland | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7070045 | Theelen | Jul 2006 | B2 |
7128206 | Kohler | Oct 2006 | B2 |
7134547 | Aclair | Nov 2006 | B2 |
7207934 | Schuster | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7374038 | Smalley | May 2008 | B2 |
7448492 | Sutherland | Nov 2008 | B2 |
7472791 | Spivey, Sr. | Jan 2009 | B2 |
7552820 | Kohler | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7578385 | Holley | Aug 2009 | B2 |
7604116 | Schuster | Oct 2009 | B2 |
7644817 | Sutherland | Jan 2010 | B2 |
7677387 | Brand et al. | Mar 2010 | B2 |
7753195 | Cuomo | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7762395 | Sutherland et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7762397 | Coltri-Johnson et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7793780 | Smalley | Sep 2010 | B2 |
8020695 | Brand | Sep 2011 | B2 |
8297437 | Smalley et al. | Oct 2012 | B2 |
8453832 | Skolik et al. | Jun 2013 | B2 |
8770397 | Holley, Jr. | Jul 2014 | B2 |
9061810 | Brand | Jun 2015 | B2 |
20020077236 | Chalendar et al. | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020117407 | Holley | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20030111363 | Theelen | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030159950 | Jones et al. | Aug 2003 | A1 |
20030213705 | Woog | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20040026269 | Cuomo | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20040050722 | Schuster | Mar 2004 | A1 |
20040094435 | Auclair et al. | May 2004 | A1 |
20040104134 | Skolik et al. | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20050211577 | Bakx | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050218014 | Schuster | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20050230273 | Kohler | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20060091024 | Cuomo | May 2006 | A1 |
20060148629 | Cuomo | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060157545 | Auclair | Jul 2006 | A1 |
20060231440 | Holley, Jr. | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20070000980 | Oliveira | Jan 2007 | A1 |
20070017839 | Sutherland | Jan 2007 | A1 |
20070029211 | Cuomo | Feb 2007 | A1 |
20070029212 | Smalley | Feb 2007 | A1 |
20070151873 | Schuster | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20080041735 | Cuomo | Feb 2008 | A1 |
20080210581 | Brand | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20090008273 | Smalley | Jan 2009 | A1 |
20100006458 | Wilkins et al. | Jan 2010 | A1 |
20100072086 | Smalley | Mar 2010 | A1 |
20100320098 | Brand | Dec 2010 | A1 |
20110127318 | Philips | Jun 2011 | A1 |
20150321816 | Holley | Nov 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
9004439 | Jun 1990 | DE |
1 319 607 | Jun 2003 | EP |
1 852 359 | Nov 2007 | EP |
2 102 073 | Sep 2010 | EP |
2 825 074 | Nov 2002 | FR |
926874 | May 1963 | GB |
WO 9705026 | Feb 1997 | WO |
WO 9901356 | Jan 1999 | WO |
WO 2006020525 | Feb 2006 | WO |
WO 2006113824 | Oct 2006 | WO |
WO 2008089124 | Jul 2008 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2015/066591 dated Apr. 12, 2016. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20160176594 A1 | Jun 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62124599 | Dec 2014 | US |