Patent Application
20070278120
According to common practice, the various features of the drawings 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 first embodiment of the present invention generally relates to a carton suitable for storing and dispensing articles such as, for example, containers containing beverages, foodstuffs and other products. The carton includes a retaining structure that prevents articles from inadvertently rolling out of the carton when the carton is in a dispensing configuration.
Articles accommodated within the present carton embodiments can include containers such as, for example, petaloid bottle containers, beverage cans, cans containing foodstuffs, glass or plastic bottles, etc. For the purposes of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the invention, the following detailed description describes generally cylindrical metallic containers as disposed within the carton. In this specification, the terms “side,” “end,” “bottom,” “lower,” “upper” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to a fully erected carton placed in a dispensing orientation.
The first side panel 40 is foldably connected to a first side first end flap 42 along a longitudinal fold line 41 and a first side second end flap 48 along a longitudinal fold line 47. The top panel 50 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 52 along a longitudinal fold line 51 and a second top end flap 58 along a longitudinal fold line 57. The second side panel 60 is foldably connected to a second side first end flap 62 along a longitudinal fold line 61 and a second side second end flap 68 along a longitudinal fold line 67. The outer bottom panel 70 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 72 along a longitudinal fold line 71 and second bottom end flap 78 along a longitudinal fold line 77.
The first end flaps 42, 52, 62, 72 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 8, and close a first end of the carton 190 (illustrated in
According to one exemplary aspect of the invention, first and second side retaining patterns 100a, 100b, and a bottom retaining pattern 130 are formed along the first marginal area of the blank 8. The retaining patterns 100a, 100b, 130 define a retaining structure 140 in the erected carton 190 (illustrated in
The first and second side retaining patterns 100a, 100b are similar in construction and arrangement, and are arranged to align with one another in the erected carton 190. The perimeter of the first retaining pattern 100a is defined by a line of disruption 102a at a top edge of the retaining pattern 100a, a transverse line of disruption 104a extending from the line 102a to the longitudinal fold line 41, a longitudinal line of disruption 106a extending along the fold line 41, and a curved line of disruption 108a extending from the end of the line 106a to the transverse fold line 35. The transverse fold lines 110a, 112a, 114a may be parallel to one another, and define a first locking projection section 116a, a first inner stop panel section 118a, a first outer stop panel section 120a, and a first bottom stop panel section 122a.
The perimeter of the second retaining pattern 100b is defined by a line of disruption 102b at a top edge of the retaining pattern 100b, a transverse line of disruption 104b extending from the line 102b to the longitudinal fold line 61, a longitudinal line of disruption 106b extending along the fold line 61, and a curved line of disruption 108b extending from the end of the line 106b to the transverse fold line 65. Transverse fold lines 110b, 112b, 114b may be parallel to one another, and define a second locking projection section 116b, a second inner stop panel section 118b, a second outer stop panel section 120b, and a second bottom stop panel section 122b.
The bottom retaining pattern 130 can be, for example, a pattern of cut lines 132, 134, 136 defining an aperture in the first bottom end flap 72. The cuts 132, 134 may be longitudinal, parallel cuts, and the cuts 136 may include transverse, oblique and longitudinal sections. Alternatively, the perimeter of the retaining pattern 130 can comprise a pattern of breachable lines of disruption that define a knockout in the blank 8. The perimeter of the pattern 130 is arranged in the bottom end flap 72 to provide a friction lock to interact with the locking projection sections 116a, 116b. The end flap 42 includes bottom edges 134a and 136a that are similar in contour with and arranged to align with the lines 134, 136, respectively. Similarly, the end flap 62 includes bottom edges 134b and 136b that are similar in contour with and arranged to align with the lines 134, 136, respectively.
A second end dispenser pattern 80 may optionally be included at the opposite end of the blank 8. The dispenser pattern 80 defines a dispenser panel 82 that may be removed to open a second end of the carton 190 (illustrated in
The fold lines 35, 45, 55, 65, 41, 47, 61, 67, 51, 57, 71, 77, 90, 110a, 112a, 114a, 110b, 112b, 114b formed in the blank 8 may be, for example, score lines, cut-space lines, cut-crease lines, combinations thereof, or other lines of disruption that facilitate folding of the blank 8. The periphery of the first and second side retaining patterns 100a, 100b, defined by the lines of disruption 102a, 104a, 106a, 108a, and 102b, 104b, 106b, 108b, respectively, and the periphery of the dispenser pattern 80 defined by the lines 84, 86, 88 may be generally characterized as “tear lines.” One or more sections of the pattern perimeters may be, for example, replaced by cuts to facilitate separation of selected sections of the patterns in the carton 190 (illustrated in
An exemplary method of erection of the carton 190 will now be discussed with reference to
Referring to
The bottom edges 134a, 136a of the end flap 42 and the bottom edges 134b, 136b of the end flap 62 generally align with the contour of the retaining pattern 130 in the bottom end flap 72. The aligned contours of the end flaps 42, 62 and the bottom retaining pattern 130 define a locking aperture 138 in the first end panel 150. The locking aperture 138 is sized and shaped to receive the locking projection 142, as discussed in further detail below.
An exemplary method of opening the first end of the carton 190 and placing the carton in a dispensing configuration will now be discussed below with reference to
Referring to
According to the above embodiment, containers C may be fed to the dispenser opening 155 by the action of gravity. The containers are securely retained at the dispenser opening of the carton by the retaining obstruction 149, and are not likely to fully escape from the carton due to movement of the carton or shifting of the carton contents. The retaining structure 140 may be formed from the first end and side panels of the carton, and therefore does not require additional board area. The retaining obstruction 149 may be spaced from the first end panel 150 so that a container at the dispenser opening 155 may be easily grasped and removed from the carton.
In the above embodiments, the carton is shown as accommodating generally cylindrical metallic containers. Other types of containers, however, can be accommodated within a carton according to the present invention. The dimensions of the blank 8 may also be altered, for example, to accommodate various container forms. In addition, various numbers and arrangements of containers C can be accommodated in a carrier carton according to principles of the present invention, for example, by adjusting the size of the blank 8.
The blank according to the present invention can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton 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. 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 any 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.
Fold lines can be any line of disruption that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, fold lines include: a crease, such as formed by folding; a score line, such as formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a score that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart scores or cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; or various combinations of these features.
A tear line can be any form of weakening intended to facilitate tearing therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, tear lines include: a score that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart scores or cuts 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 of tear line is a series of spaced apart cuts that extend completely through the material, with adjacent cuts being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent cuts for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line.
In the present specification, a “panel” need not be flat or otherwise planar. A “panel” can, for example, comprise a plurality of interconnected generally flat or planar sections.
The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure paperboard carton panels in place.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that while the present invention has been discussed above with reference to exemplary embodiments, various additions, modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
