Patent Application
20070295790
The present invention generally relates to cartons for holding and dispensing articles.
In general, one aspect of the invention is 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 comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A dispenser is for allowing removal of articles from the carton. The dispenser comprises a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line in the carton and is for being at least partially removed for at least further opening a dispenser opening. In the top panel, the tear line comprises a first lateral portion extending from proximate a first edge of the top panel to proximate a second edge of the top panel and a second lateral portion extending from proximate the first edge to proximate the second edge.
In another aspect, the invention is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton. The blank comprises a plurality of panels. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The blank comprises dispenser features comprising at least one dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line for at least partially separating the dispenser panel from the blank. In the top panel, the tear line comprises a first lateral portion extending from proximate a first edge of the top panel to proximate a second edge of the top panel, and a second lateral portion extending from proximate the first edge to proximate the second edge.
In yet another aspect, the invention is generally directed to a method of opening a carton. The method comprises providing a carton having a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a dispenser comprising a dispenser panel at least partially defined by a tear line in the carton and an access flap in at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. The tear line comprises a first lateral portion extending from proximate a first edge of the top panel to proximate a second edge of the top panel, and a second lateral portion extending from proximate the first edge to proximate the second edge. The method further comprising pivoting the access flap to allow access to the dispenser panel and grasping the dispenser panel and at least partially separating the dispenser panel from the carton by at least partially tearing the carton along the first and second lateral portions to create a dispenser opening in the carton.
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.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
The present invention generally relates to cartons housing a plurality of articles and a dispenser in the carton for removing articles from the carton. The present invention can be used, for example, in cartons that contain articles or other products such as, for example, food and beverages or pet food. The articles can also include soup cans or other food or beverage containers such as, for example, cans, bottles, PET containers, or other containers such as those used in packaging foodstuffs. For the purposes of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the present invention, the following detailed description describes generally cylindrical containers as disposed within the carton embodiments. In this specification, the relative terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper” and “top” indicate relative orientations determined in relation to fully erected cartons.
The blank 1 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 1 comprises a bottom panel 10 foldably connected to a first side panel 20 at a first longitudinal fold line 21, a top panel 30 foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at a second longitudinal fold line 31, and a second side panel 40 foldably connected to the top panel 30 at a third longitudinal fold line 41. An adhesive flap 50 is foldably connected to the bottom panel 10 at a fourth longitudinal fold line 51.
The bottom panel 10 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 12 and a second bottom end flap 14. The first side panel 20 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 22 and a second side end flap 24. The top panel 30 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 32 and a second top end flap 34. The second side panel 40 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 42 and a second side end flap 44. When the carton 3 is erected, the top and bottom end flaps 12 and 32 and side end flaps 22 and 42 close a first end 35 of the carton, and the top and bottom end flaps 14 and 34 and side end flaps 24 and 44 close a second end 45 of the carton. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, different flap arrangements can be used for closing the ends 35, 45 of the carton.
The top and bottom end flaps 12 and 32 and side end flaps 22 and 42 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 1, and can be foldably connected at a first lateral fold line 62 that extends along the width of the blank. The top and bottom end flaps 14 and 34 and side end flaps 24 and 44 extend along a second marginal area of the blank 1, and can be foldably connected at a second lateral fold line 64 that also extends along the width of the blank. The lateral fold lines 62, 64 may be, for example, substantially straight, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors. In the illustrated embodiment, the side end flaps 24, 44 each have a respective longitudinal fold line 25, 26 extending from the lateral fold line 64 to the edge of the flap.
The dispenser 5 includes a dispenser panel, generally indicated at 72, removably attached to the blank 1 at a tear line, generally indicated at 74. When the dispenser panel 72 is removed from the carton 3, a dispenser opening 75 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the tear line 74 includes a first portion 84 extending in the longitudinal direction in the side panel 20 from the access opening 85 to a curved second portion 86 of the tear line, with the second portion extending from the first portion to the longitudinal fold line 31. The tear line 74 includes a third portion 90 extending in the lateral direction in the top panel 30 between the longitudinal fold line 31 and the longitudinal fold line 41. A fourth portion 92 of the tear line 74 extends from the intersection of the third portion 90 with the longitudinal fold line. The fourth portion 92 of the tear line 74 is curved and extends laterally away from the longitudinal fold line 41 into the side panel 40 and extends laterally back to the longitudinal fold line 41. In the illustrated embodiment, the fourth portion 92 is generally semicircular in shape but it is understood that it may be otherwise shaped without departing from the scope of this invention. The tear line 74 includes a fifth portion 94 extending generally in the lateral direction in the top panel 30 between the intersection of the fourth portion 92 with the longitudinal fold line 41 to the access opening 85 in the side panel 20.
In the illustrated embodiment, the fifth portion 94 of the tear line 74 is generally parallel to the third portion 90 and is spaced apart from the third portion by a distance D1. Also, the lateral portion 90 of the tear line 74 is spaced apart from the lateral fold line 64 a distance D2. It is understood that the distance D1 is less than the diameter of the containers although the tear line 74 may be otherwise sized and shaped without departing from the scope of this invention. In one embodiment, the distance D1 is in the range of approximately 25 percent to approximately 90 percent of the diameter of the containers C, and the distance D2 is in the range of approximately 10 percent to approximately 75 percent of the diameter of the containers.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 1 includes a hinge, generally designated 105, that allows the dispenser opening 75 to be expanded to facilitate access to the container C in the carton 3. The hinge 105 includes a first curved tear line 111 in the blank 1 that extends from the second portion 86 of the tear line 74 to the intersection of the lateral fold line 64 and the longitudinal fold line 26 in the side end flap 24. A second curved tear line 113 extends from the fourth portion 92 of the tear line 74 in the second side panel 40 to the intersection of the lateral fold line 64 with the longitudinal fold line 25 in the side end flap 44. In the illustrated embodiment, the intersection of each of the first and second curved tear lines 111, 113 with the lateral fold line 64 is spaced apart from a respective fold line 31, 41 a distance D4. The intersection of each of the first and second curved tear lines 111, 113 with the lateral fold line 64 is spaced apart from a respective fold line 21, 51 a distance D5. In the illustrated embodiment, the fold lines 25, 26 are respectively aligned with the intersections of the curved tear lines 111, 113 with the lateral fold line 64 so that the fold lines 25, 26 are spaced from the fold lines 31, 41 by the distance D4 and the fold lines 25, 26 are respectively spaced from the fold lines 21, 51 by the distance D5. The fold lines 25, 26 could be alternative spaced and arranged, or could be omitted, without departing from the invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second curved tear lines 111, 113, respective portions of the second and fourth portions 86, 92 of the tear line 74, and the third portion 90 of the tear line define a pivotable flap 115 of the carton 3. The pivotable flap 115 includes a portion of the first side panel 20, a portion of the top panel 30, a portion of the second side panel 40, and portions of the end flaps 24, 44, 34 forming the closed end 45 of the carton 3. As will be discussed in more detail below, the pivotable flap 115 is generally pivotable at the closed end of the carton 3 about the fold lines 25, 26 of the overlapped side end flaps 24, 44 forming the closed end 45 of the carton to expand the dispenser opening 75. The fold lines 25, 26 may be straight, curved, or otherwise shaped without departing from the scope of this invention. Further, the blank 1 may include tear lines (not shown) in the side end flaps 24, 44 to facilitate removal of the pivotable flap 115 from the carton 3 without departing from the scope of this invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the tear lines 111, 115 are curved but it is understood that the tear lines may be otherwise shaped (e.g., straight, oblique, L-shaped, etc.) without departing from the scope of this invention.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 1 includes a handle generally designated 121 in the top panel 30. The handle 121 can be any type of suitable conventional handle. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle comprises an elongate handle flap 125 formed in the top panel 30 and a diamond-shaped crease 127 in the top panel and the first and second side panels 20, 40. The handle flap 125 is foldably attached to the top panel 30 at lateral fold line 126 and is defined by a tear line 128. A lateral fold line 130 bisects the handle flap 125 and diamond-shaped crease 127 and extends across the top panel 30 and into both the side panels 20, 40 to facilitate activation of the handle 121. The handle 121 may be activated by pressing on the handle flap 125 and folding the handle flap down (e.g., inward) to form an opening (not shown) in the carton 3. The opening is shaped for insertion of a user's fingers during grasping of the carton 3. The handle 121 is longitudinally spaced in the top panel 30 such that the handle flap 125 is generally centered in the top panel between the lateral fold lines 62, 64 of the blank. It is understood that the handle 121 may be otherwise shaped and otherwise located without departing from the scope of this invention. For example, the handle 121 may be located in the top panel closer to the closed end 35 to facilitate grasping of the carton via at a location closer to the closed end. Furthermore, the handle 121 can be omitted from the carton 3 without departing from the invention. In one embodiment, portions (e.g., end portions extending from respective edges of the handle flap 125) of the lateral fold line 130 can be tear lines to facilitate activation of the handle 121. Also, the fold line 130 can be a tear line that divides the handle flap 125 into two portions each being foldably attached to the top panel 30.
As shown in
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the blank 1 can be erected into the carton 3 by folding along fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51 and adhering the adhesive flap 50 to the bottom panel 10. The ends 35, 45 of the carton 3 can be closed by respectively overlapping and adhering the top and bottom end flaps 12, 32, 14, 34 and side end flaps 22, 42, 24, 44 after the containers C are inserted into the carton. Alternatively, one of the ends 35, 45 can be closed before inserting the containers C into the carton 3 and the other of the ends can be closed after inserting the containers in the carton. It is understood that closing configurations that differ than the closing configurations discussed herein are within the scope of the invention.
As shown in
The present invention can be used in cartons that include various features, including additional opening features that provide easy access to the articles, and tilt features that position the articles at the front or rear end of the carton.
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 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. In accordance with the above-described 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 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.
In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present invention, 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 invention, 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. 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 or other line of disruption.
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 invention 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 invention.
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 invention illustrates and describes various embodiments of the present invention. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, 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. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the invention, but the invention 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 invention without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/815,977 which was filed on Jun. 23, 2006. The entire content of the above-referenced provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference as if presented herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60815977 | Jun 2006 | US |
