The entire contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/146,298, filed May 4, 2016, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/832,886, filed Mar. 15, 2013, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/741,315, filed Jul. 17, 2012, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/419,740, filed Mar. 14, 2012, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/518,504, filed May 6, 2011, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/572,638, filed Jul. 19, 2011, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/272,249, filed Oct. 7, 2011, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/548,779, filed Oct. 19, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/570,044, filed Dec. 13, 2011, are hereby incorporated by reference as if presented herein in their entirety.
The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding beverage containers or other types of articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cartons having an article protection insert and access features for positioning the article protection insert.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is generally directed to a carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. An article protection insert comprises a plurality of features for engaging a respective article of the plurality of articles. At least one access feature is in the top panel for positioning the article protection insert to a position wherein the features engage at least one article of the plurality of articles.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a combination of a carton blank and an article protection insert blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, and at least one access feature in the top panel for positioning the article protection insert blank. The article protection insert blank comprises a plurality of features for engaging a respective article of the plurality of articles. The at least one access feature is for positioning the article protection insert to a position wherein the features engage at least one article of the plurality of articles in the carton formed from carton blank and the article protection insert blank.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton. The method comprises obtaining a carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, and at least one access feature in the top panel. The method comprises obtaining an article protection insert blank comprising a plurality of features for engaging a respective article of the plurality of articles and positioning the article protection insert blank relative to the carton blank. The method comprises forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, the forming the interior of the carton comprising forming an open-ended sleeve, loading a plurality of articles in the interior of the carton, and accessing the article protection insert blank through the at least one access feature to form the article protection insert with the features in engagement with a respective article of the plurality of articles.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present disclosure can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
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. Further, 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 protection, opening, dispensing, and handling features for cartons that contain articles such as containers, bottles, cans, etc. 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 (polyethylene terephthalate), LDPE (low-density polyethylene), LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol), and Nylon; and the like, or any combination thereof.
Some of the various features disclosed may be similar to any of the embodiments disclosed in the above-noted incorporated by reference patent applications, including U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/419,740 and all related applications. Further, some of the various features disclosed herein may be combined with features disclosed in the '740 application to restrain movement of the containers in the carton.
Cartons 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., glass beverage bottles) as disposed within the carton embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright cartons.
The blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 comprises a bottom panel 15 foldably connected to a first side panel 17 at a first lateral fold line 19, a second side panel 23 foldably connected to the bottom panel 15 at a second lateral fold line 25, and a top panel 29 foldably connected to the second side panel 23 at a third lateral fold line 31. In one embodiment, an adhesive flap 33 is foldably connected to the top panel 29 at a fourth lateral fold line 37.
The bottom panel 15 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 43 and a second bottom end flap 45. The first side panel 17 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 47 and a second side end flap 49. The second side panel 23 is foldably connected to a third side end flap 53 and a fourth side end flap 55. The top panel 29 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 57 and a second top end flap 59. When the carton 5 is erected, the end flaps 43, 47, 53, 57 close a first end 72 of the carton, and the end flaps 45, 49, 55, 59, close a second end 74 of the carton. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different flap arrangements can be used for closing the ends of the carton 5.
The end flaps 43, 47, 53, 57 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 3, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line 67 that extends along the length of the blank. The end flaps 45, 49, 55, 59 extend along a second marginal area of the blank 3, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line 69 that also extends along the length of the blank. The longitudinal fold lines 67, 69 may be, for example, substantially straight, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the blank 3 has features for forming article protection features in the ends 72, 74 of the carton 5. As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 includes three bottom article protection flaps 121 arranged in a 1×3 arrangement and foldably connected to the bottom panel 15, but the blank 3 could have more or less than three bottom article protection flaps 121, and the flaps 121 could be otherwise arranged in other suitable row/column arrangements or in a random configuration on the bottom panel 15, including a multiple row or a multiple column configuration, or any other suitable configuration. The bottom article protection flaps 121 are each foldably connected to the bottom panel 15 at a respective lateral fold line 123 and are each at least partially defined by a line of weakening 125 in the bottom panel 15. In one embodiment, the line of weakening 125 is a cut, but the line of weakening could comprise other forms of weakening (e.g., a tear line that comprises cut lines separated by breakable nicks, a tear line that is formed by a series of spaced apart cuts, etc.) that allow the bottom article protection flap 121 to separate from the bottom panel 15 without departing from the disclosure. In other embodiments, the blank 3 can include bottom article protection flaps 121 that are otherwise, shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. The bottom article protection flaps 121 could be omitted without departing from the disclosure.
In one embodiment, the blank 3 comprise a dispenser panel 131 in the top panel 29 and the second side panel 23 for forming a dispenser 133 in the carton 5. The dispenser panel 131 is formed by a dispenser pattern or tear line 135 that extends from the lateral fold line 37, across the top panel 29, and into a portion of the second side panel 23. In one embodiment, the dispenser panel 131 comprises a first portion 137 in the top panel 29 and a second portion 141 foldably connected to the first portion at a portion of the lateral fold line 31 extending across the dispenser panel 131. As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the carton can be formed from the carton blank 3 and the article protection insert blank 163 by attaching the article protection insert blank to the top panel 29 by glue or other adhesive. The attachment of the article protection insert blank 163 to the carton blank 3 is a temporary attachment as the article protection insert blank can be secured to the top panel 29 by releasable adhesive such as glue or other suitable adhesive. Further, at various stages of the erecting process, glue or other adhesive can be applied to various portions of the blank 3. After attaching the article protection insert blank 163 to the top panel 29, the combined blanks 3, 163 can be formed into an open-ended sleeve by folding the bottom panel 15, side panels 17, 23, and top panel 29 along respective fold lines 19, 25, 31, 37. Containers C can be loaded into an interior space of the sleeve. One of the ends 72, 74 can be closed prior to loading the containers C or both of the ends can be closed after loading the containers into the interior space.
After closing the ends 72, 74 (or alternatively, prior to closing the ends), the article protection insert 165 can be positioned to engage the articles C. As shown in
In one embodiment, the loaded and closed carton 5 is further processed so that the bottom article protection flaps 121 are activated to provide a cushion between the bottom portions BP of the containers C inside the carton and further secure the containers to prevent breaking. The bottom article protection flaps 121 are foldably connected to the bottom panel 15 and moveable between a first position (that is substantially parallel to the bottom panel) and a second position (
In one embodiment, each of the first outer portion 223 and the second outer portion 225 has respective notches 241, 243 in a respective outer edge 245, 247 of the article protection insert blank 208. Each of the first outer portion 223 and the second outer portion 225 has a respective projection 251, 253 between respective adjacent notches 241, 243. The article protection insert blank 208 and the article protection insert 210 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
As shown in
As shown in
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 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 blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blank 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 carton embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton 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 is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/146,298, filed May 4, 2016, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/832,886, filed Mar. 15, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,352,890, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/741,315, filed Jul. 17, 2012. This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/419,740, filed Mar. 14, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/518,504, filed May 6, 2011, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/572,638, filed Jul. 19, 2011, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/272,249, filed Oct. 7, 2011, U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/548,779, filed Oct. 19, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/570,044, filed Dec. 13, 2011.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 15146298 | May 2016 | US |
Child | 16014142 | US | |
Parent | 13832886 | Mar 2013 | US |
Child | 15146298 | US |