Patent Application
20170101213
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 a display feature.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton for holding 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. The carton comprises a display feature comprising a display opening in at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and a display panel foldably connected to the top panel. The display panel is located in the interior and spaced-apart from the opening. The display panel is at least partially visible through the display opening.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton for holding a plurality of articles. The blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The plurality of panels being for forming an interior of the carton formed from the blank. The blank comprises a display feature comprising a display opening in at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and a display panel foldably connected to the top panel. The display panel is for being located in the interior and spaced-apart from the opening and positioned for being at least partially visible through the display opening in the carton formed from the blank.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton for holding a plurality of articles. The method comprises obtaining a blank having a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The blank comprises a display feature comprising a display opening in at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and a display panel foldably connected to the top panel. The method comprises positioning the plurality of panels to extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, and positioning the display panel to be located in the interior and spaced-apart from the display opening so that the display panel is at least partially visible through the display opening.
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. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the above-discussed aspects be provided both individually and in various combinations.
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 cartons that hold and contain articles such as containers, bottles, cans, etc. The articles can be used for packaging 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, aluminum and/or other metals; glass; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like, or any combination thereof.
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 “inner,” “outer,” “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright cartons.
The carton blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. In the embodiment of
The bottom panel 15 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 33 and a second bottom end flap 35. The first side panel 17 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 37 and a second side end flap 39. The second side panel 21 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 43 and a second side end flap 45. The second top panel 29 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 51 and a second top end flap 53. In one embodiment, when the carton 5 is erected, the end flaps 33, 37, 43, 51 close the first end 47 of the carton, and the end flaps 35, 39, 45, 53 close the second end 49 of the carton. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different flap arrangements can be used for closing the ends 47, 49 of the carton 5. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different flap arrangements can be used for closing the first end 47 and the second end 49 of the carton 5.
The end flaps 33, 37, 43, 51 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 3, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line 61 that extends along the length of the blank. The end flaps 35, 39, 45, 53 extend along a second marginal area of the carton blank 3, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line 63 that also extends along the length of the blank. The longitudinal fold lines 61, 63 may be, for example, substantially straight, curved, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors. The ends of the carton 5 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured (e.g., at least partially tapered) without departing from the disclosure.
In the embodiment of
As shown in
The blank 3 can have other features for forming the handles 70a, 70b, or the blank 3 and/or carton 5 can have one or more handles that are alternatively shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. For example, any or all of the handle flaps 73a, 73b, 89a, 89b, 91a, 91b could be omitted. Further, one or both of the handles 70a, 70b can be omitted without departing from the disclosure.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser features in the blank 3 further include a second dispenser panel 159 having a first portion 159a in the top panel 29 and a second portion 159b in the second side panel 21. The second dispenser panel 159 is separable from the remainder of the second top panel 29 and second side panel 21 along tear lines 163 and is foldably connected to the display panel 11 along lateral fold line 165. The tear lines 163 can be shaped and disposed in the second top panel 29 and second side panel 21 so that, when the carton 5 is formed, the first top panel 25 overlaps a portion of the second top panel 29 with the first dispenser panel 145 overlapping a portion of the second dispenser panel 159 so that the tear lines 163 are generally aligned with the tear lines 149. The second dispenser panel 159, and/or tear lines 163 and fold line 165 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure. Additionally, one or both the dispenser panels 145, 159 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, configured, and/or omitted without departing from the disclosure.
In one embodiment, the cutout 9 is located in the first side panel 17 and may extend a longitudinal distance “d1” from the fold line 27. The cutout 9 may be any suitable shape and/or artistic design such as multiple smaller openings such as rectangles, circles, letters, numbers, logo, openings having curved edges, etc., or any other design or combination thereof. In the embodiment of
As shown in
As illustrated in
The blank can be folded along fold lines 19, 23, 27, 31 to form the sleeve 180 in an open configuration with the interior 181 formed. As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the end flaps 33, 51 are inwardly folded along the longitudinal fold line 61 and the side end flaps 37, 43 are inwardly folded along the longitudinal fold line 61 to at least partially close the first end 47. In one embodiment, the side end flaps 37, 43 are glued in face-to face contact with the end flaps 51, 33. Accordingly, the handle 70a in the first end 47 is formed by the alignment of the handle flaps 73a, 89a, 91a. The top end flap 51, the side end flaps 37, 43, and the bottom end flap 33 can be selectively adhered to one another to close the first end 47 of the carton 5. In one embodiment, the handle flap 89a is glued to the respective handle flaps 73a, 91a to form a respective handle 70a at the first end 47.
In one embodiment, the second end 49 of the carton 5 can be closed in a similar manner as the first end 47 by folding, respectively overlapping, and selectively adhering the side end flaps 39, 45, the top end flap 153, and the bottom end flap 35. Further, the second handle 70b can be formed in a similar manner as the first handle 70a. The erected carton is shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, the bottom panel 15 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 33 and a second bottom end flap 35. The first side panel 17 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 337 and a second side end flap 339. The second side panel 21 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 343 and a second side end flap 345. The top panel 29 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 51 and a second top end flap 53. In one embodiment, when the carton 305 is erected, the end flaps 33, 337, 343, 51 close the first end 347 of the carton, and the end flaps 35, 339, 345, 353 close the second end 309 of the carton.
The end flaps 33, 337, 343, 51 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 303, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line 61 that extends along the length of the blank. The end flaps 35, 339, 345, 349, 53 extend along a second marginal area of the carton blank 303, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line 63 that also extends along the length of the blank.
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, the blank 303 includes display features for forming a three dimensional display in the carton 305. As shown in
The blank 303 can be formed into the carton 305 in a similar manner as described above for the first embodiment. The blank 303 can be formed into an open-ended sleeve 380 (
The blank 303 and/or carton 305 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can be combined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
The blanks 3 and 303 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 blanks. 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 blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the cartons 5 and 305 to function at least generally as described herein. The blank 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 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 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 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 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/239,415 filed Oct. 9, 2015. The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/239,415 filed Oct. 9, 2015, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62239415 | Oct 2015 | US |
