Patent Grant
9656789
The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a carton having a handle.
In one aspect, the present disclosure is generally directed to a carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel and a side panel foldably connected to the top panel. The carton further comprises at least one end flap foldably connected to the top panel and at least partially closing an end of the carton. A handle comprises a handle portion in at least the top panel and a handle flap in at least the end flap. The handle portion is connected to the handle flap. The carton comprises an upper portion that is removably attached to a tray portion and the handle being configured to carry the tray portion
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles. The blank includes a plurality of panels comprising a top panel and a side panel foldably connected to the top panel. At least one end flap is foldably connected to the top panel. The blank further includes a handle comprising a handle portion in at least the top panel and a handle flap in at least the end flap. The handle portion is connected to the handle flap and the carton comprises an upper portion that is removably attached to a tray portion when the carton is formed from the blank. The handle is configured to carry the tray portion when the carton is formed from the blank.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton. The method comprising obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around the interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprising a top panel and a side panel. The side panel is foldably connected to the top panel. At least one end flap is foldably connected to the top panel. The blank comprises a handle comprising a handle portion in at least the top panel and a handle flap in at least the end flap. The method comprises forming an interior of the carton wherein the carton comprises an upper portion removeably attached to a tray portion. The method comprises forming a handle by connecting the handle portion to the handle flap, the handle being configured to carry the tray portion.
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 for containing 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, 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, plastic, or metal 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. The blank 3 comprises a bottom panel 11 foldably connected to first and second side panels 15, 13 at respective lateral fold lines 17, 19, an outer top panel 23 foldably connected to the first side panel 15 at a lateral fold line 25, and an inner top panel 29 foldably connected to the second side panel 13 at a lateral fold line 31. The outer and inner top panels 23, 29 can at least partially overlap in the erected carton 5 to form a top wall 30 (
The bottom panel 11 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 35 and a second bottom end flap 37. The first side panel 15 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 45 and a second side end flap 47. The second side panel 13 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 41 and a second side end flap 43. The outer top panel 23 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 51 and a second top end flap 53. The inner top panel 29 is foldably connected to a third top end flap 55 and a fourth top end flap 57.
The end flaps 35, 41, 45, 51, 55 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 37, 43, 47, 53, 57 extend along a second marginal area of the 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, or oblique at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors. Additionally, portions of the longitudinal fold lines 61, 63 can be weakened areas, such as portions of the longitudinal fold lines 61, 63 that are overlapped by respective other portions of the longitudinal fold lines 61, 63. A weakened area can be two or more scores, creases, or other lines. For example, weakened areas 61a, 61b can be generally aligned with the first longitudinal fold line 61 and weakened areas 63a, 63b can be generally aligned with the second longitudinal fold line 63. When the carton 5 is erected, the end flaps 35, 41, 45, 51, 55 close a first end 67 of the carton, and the end flaps 37, 43, 47, 53, 57 close a second end 69 of the carton. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the disclosure, different flap arrangements can be used for closing the ends 67, 69 of the carton 5.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 includes lateral tear lines 71, 72 extending across the side end flap 41, the second side panel 13, and the side end flap 43. Also, lateral tear lines 73, 74 extend across the side end flap 45, the first side panel 15, and the side end flap 47. The lateral tear lines 71, 72 define a tear strip 75 and the lateral tear lines 73, 74 define a tear strip 76 which are configured to extend between closed ends 67,69 of the carton 5 (
In one embodiment, the features that comprise the handle 7 include an outer handle panel 81 that is in the outer top panel 23. The outer handle panel 81 comprises a central portion 82 in the outer top panel 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the central portion 82 of the handle panel 81 includes two handle flaps 93 foldably connected to the handle panel at respective lateral fold lines 95. As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the inner top panel 29 comprises a first (inner) handle panel 105 and a second (intermediate) handle panel 107. The features that comprise the handle 7 also comprise the inner handle panel 105 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the features for forming the handle 7 further comprise handle flaps 141, 143 in the respective top end flaps 51, 53. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle flaps 141, 143 are defined by a respective tear line 145, 147 in a respective top end flap 51, 53, and the handle flaps are spaced apart from a respective longitudinal fold line 61, 63 and the top panel 23. Portions of the tear lines 145, 147, or all of the tear lines 145, 147, can be replaced by a cut line (e.g., the longitudinal portion of the tear lines 145, 147 could be a cut line). The article-receiving features further include article-receiving flaps 148, 149 foldably connected to each of the handle flaps 141, 143. The flaps 148, 149 can be defined by cut lines 150 and fold lines 152 extending to the respective tear lines 145, 147. The features for forming the handle 7 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and positioned without departing from the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 comprises features for forming a dispenser of the carton 5. The features for forming the dispenser include the at least two tear strips 75, 76 which cooperate with the tear lines 145, 147 such that an upper/lid portion 32 of the carton 5 is removable from a lower/tray portion 33, allowing dispensing of articles disposed therein, while retaining use of the handle 7 that is configured for carrying the tray portion. In one embodiment, the tray portion 33 comprises the bottom panel 11, bottom end flaps 35, 37, portions of the side panels 13, 15, portions of the end flaps 41, 43, 45, 47 and the handle 7 (illustrated in
An exemplary method of erecting the carton 5 is discussed in detail below. At various stages in the erecting, respective portions of the blank 3 are mounted to one another in any suitable manner. For example, at various stages of the erecting process, glue or other adhesive material can be applied at various portions of the blank 3. For example, the adhesive material may or may not be present where appropriate surfaces of the blank are in face-to-face contact.
Generally, the blank 3 may be positioned such that the inner handle panel 105 is folded about fold lines 127, 129 so that the inner handle panel overlaps and is in face-to-face contact with the intermediate handle panel 107. Glue can be applied to portions of either the inner or intermediate handle panel 105, 107 to adhesively secure the inner and intermediate handle panels. When the inner and intermediate handle panels 105, 107 are overlapped, the openings 136, 138 in the respective end portions 111, 119 of the respective inner and intermediate handle panels 105, 107 are generally aligned and form a first article-receiving opening 161 (
Subsequently, the blank 3 can be folded at the lateral fold line 31 to position the overlapped inner and inter mediate handle panels 105, 107 to be in face-to-face contact with the side panel 13. Next, the blank 3 is further assembled by folding at lateral fold line 17 so that the outer top panel 23, with overlapped inner and intermediate handle panels 105, 107, overlaps the inner top panel 29 to form the top wall 30, and the partially erected carton is in the form of a flattened sleeve formation. In the flattened sleeve formation, the outer handle panel 81 is in face-to-face contact with a portion of the intermediate handle panel 107 that overlaps the inner handle panel 105. Also, the handle flap 141 is in face-to-face contact with a portion of the end portion 119 of the intermediate handle panel 107, and the handle flap 143 is in face-to-face contact with a portion of the end portion 121 of the intermediate handle panel. In one embodiment, the outer handle panel 81 is adhesively secured to the central portion 117 of the intermediate handle panel 107, the handle flap 141 is adhesively secured to the end portion 119 of the intermediate handle panel 107, and the handle flap 143 is adhesively secured to the end portion 121 of the intermediate handle panel. The article-receiving features can be generally overlapped so that a portion of the article receiving-opening 161 (overlapped openings 137, 139) is generally aligned with the article-receiving flaps 148, 149 in the handle flap 141 and a portion of the article-receiving opening 163 (overlapped openings 136, 138) is generally aligned with the article-receiving flaps 148, 149 in the handle flap 143.
The flattened sleeve formation can be erected into an open-ended sleeve so that containers C can be loaded into the erected sleeve. After loading the containers C, the ends 67, 69 of the carton can be closed by at least partially overlapping and adhering the end flaps 35, 41, 45, 51, 55 at one end of the carton and at least partially overlapping and adhering the end flaps 37, 43, 47, 53, 57 at the other end of the carton. The overlapped top end flaps at each end (e.g., 53, 57 at end 69) are downwardly folded and secured to the bottom end flap (e.g., 37) and side end flaps 43, 47 at the same end. The assembled carton 5 is shown in
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the handle 7 formed from the handle features of the blank comprises three layers of material (outer handle panel 81, central portion 117 of the intermediate handle panel 107, and central portion 109 of the inner handle panel 105) in the top of the carton 5, three layers of material (handle flap 141, end portion 119 of intermediate handle panel 107, and end portion 111 of inner handle panel 105) at the first end of the carton 67, and three layers of material (handle flap 143, end portion 121 of intermediate handle panel 107, and end portion 113 of inner handle panel 105) at the second end of the carton 69. The handle 7 could have other features and could include additional or fewer reinforcing layers or portions without departing from the disclosure.
It is noted that the handle 7 is formed in a manner that has end portions in the end 67, 69 of the carton 5 while keeping the corners of the carton at the ends 67, 69, intact and free from any portion of the handle. The handle flaps 141, 143 are spaced apart from the top wall 30 so that the handle 7 extends from the carton 5 without disrupting the interior 164.
As shown in
As further illustrated in
In the embodiments of the disclosure comprising a two-ply handle panel, or two-ply and/or three-ply portions of the handle, the caliper or thickness of the material of the blank can be increased to maintain the strength of the handle in the two-ply embodiments.
The blanks 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 blanks. 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 exemplary embodiments, the blanks 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 carton package to function at least generally as described above. The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments of this 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 this 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. 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.
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. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels or flaps 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 invention as set forth in the claims. 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 claims, 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 Application No. 61/850,756, filed Feb. 22, 2013. The entire contents of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/850,756, filed Feb. 22, 2013, are hereby incorporated by reference as if presented herein in its entirety.
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