Patent Application
20100044420
The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding and dispensing beverage containers or other types of articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cartons having a reinforcing insert.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton for holding a plurality of containers. 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. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton. The at least two end flaps comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel. A reinforcing insert comprises a central panel and a reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the central panel. The central panel is in face-to-face contact with the top panel and the reinforcing end flap is in face-to-face contact with the top end flap. A dispenser allows access to the articles in the carton. The dispenser comprises at least a portion of the top panel and at least a portion of the central panel.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to the combination of a carton blank and an insert blank for forming a carton having reinforced features. The carton blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels for overlapping to at least partially close an end of a carton formed from the carton blank. The at least two end flaps comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel. The insert blank comprises a central panel and a reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the central panel. The central panel is in face-to-face contact with the top panel and the reinforcing end flap is in face-to-face contact with the top end flap. Dispenser features comprise at least a portion of the top panel and at least a portion of the central panel.
In another aspect the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton. The method comprises obtaining a carton blank, obtaining an insert blank, positioning the insert blank relative to the carton blank, attaching the insert blank to the carton blank, and forming the attached insert blank and carton blank into a carton. The carton blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel. A dispenser feature comprises at least a portion of the top panel. The insert blank comprises a central panel and a reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the central panel. The dispenser feature comprises at least a portion of the central panel. The central panel overlaps at least a portion of the top panel and the reinforcing flap overlaps at least a portion of the top end flap when the insert blank is positioned relative to the carton blank.
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 disclosure.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
The present disclosure generally relates to 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, 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 “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 illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 comprises a top panel 10 foldably connected to a first side panel 20 at a first lateral fold line 21. A bottom panel 30 is foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at a second lateral fold line 31. A second side panel 40 is foldably connected to the bottom panel 30 at a third lateral fold line 41. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 includes an adhesive flap 50 foldably connected to the top panel 10 at a fourth lateral fold line 52.
The top panel 10 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 12 and a second top 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 bottom panel 30 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 32 and a second bottom 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 5 is erected, the top and bottom end flaps 12 and 32 and side end flaps 22 and 42 close a first end 51 of the carton, and the top and bottom end flaps 14 and 34 and side end flaps 24 and 44 close a second end 53 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 3, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line 62 that extends along the length 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 3, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line 64 that also extends along the length of the blank. The longitudinal 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.
The dispenser 7 includes a dispenser panel 87 formed in the top panel 10. The dispenser panel 87 is separable from the carton 5 along a tear line, generally indicated at 89, to form a dispenser opening 271 (
In the illustrated embodiment the tear line 89 divides the dispenser panel 87 into a first portion 102 and a second portion 104. The first and second portions 102, 104 of the dispenser panel 87 are opened by tearing the tear line 89, upwardly folding the first portion 102 about a portion of the lateral fold line 21 and upwardly folding the second portion 104 about a portion of the lateral fold line 52. The dispenser 7 may be otherwise sized, shaped, and/or located in the carton 5 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, third and forth portions might extend only partially across the top panel 10, wherein one or both of the portions 102, 104 are connected to the top panel 10 at fold lines in the top panel 10 that are not collinear with the fold lines 21, 52. Further, the dispenser 7 may be omitted from the carton 5 without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the second handle 111 is formed from features that are substantially similar to the features that form the first handle 11. The second handle 111 could have different features than the first handle without departing from the disclosure. Further, the second handle 111 can be omitted without departing from the disclosure.
The central panel 206 includes an elongate opening 228 at the center of the central panel. The elongate opening 228 is shaped to be larger than the finger panel 92 in the carton blank 3. A tear line 231 is provided in the central panel 206 that generally corresponds with the tear line 89 of the top panel 10. The central panel 206 is separable at the tear line 231 into a first and second flap 234, 236, respectively. Each flap 234, 236 has two corners or retention portions 240, 242 respectively foldably connected to the flap at a fold line 237, 239 that is oblique relative to the edges of the flap. In the illustrated embodiment, the tear line 231 includes a first portion 251 and a second portion 253 extending from opposite ends of the elongate opening 228. The tear line includes a third portion 255 that is generally perpendicular to the first portion 251 and a fourth portion 257 that is generally perpendicular to the second portion 253. The third portion 255 and the first portion 251 of the tear line 231 form a first generally T-shaped tear line in the insert blank 203 and the fourth portion 257 and the second portion 253 form a second generally T-shaped portion in the insert blank. The tear line 231 and the other features of the insert blank 203 could be otherwise shaped and arranged without departing from this disclosure.
As shown in
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the carton blank 3 with insert blank 203 can be further erected into the carton 5 by folding along fold lines 21, 31, 41, and 52 and adhering the adhesive flap 50 to the second side panel 40 to form a sleeve 141 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the first end 51 of the carton 5 is closed by respectively overlapping and adhering the side end flaps 22, 42 and the top and bottom end flaps 12, 32. The second end 53 of the carton 5 is closed by respectively overlapping and adhering the side end flaps 24, 44 and top and bottom end flaps 14, 34. The top end flaps 12, 14, the upper portions 139, 140, and the reinforcing end flaps 212, 214 provide three layers of material above each handle 11, 111 with the reinforcing flaps 212, 214 in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the respective top end flaps 12, 14, and in face-to-face contact with an exterior surface of the respective side end flaps 22, 42 and side end flaps 24, 44. Once the blank 3 is formed into the sleeve 141, the containers C may be loaded in the carton 5 from the first end 51 and then the first end may be closed by overlapping and gluing the side end flaps 22, 42 and top and bottom end flaps 12, 32, and then the second end may be closed by overlapping and gluing the side end flaps 24, 44 and top and bottom end flaps 14, 34. The assembled carton 5 is shown in
The handle 11 can be used to grasp the carton 5 by pressing against the elongate handle flap 131 to create a handle opening in the closed first end 51 of the carton 5. Similarly, the handle 111 can be used to grasp the carton 5 at the closed second end 53. The end flaps 212, 214 of the reinforcing insert provide an extra layer of material above each handle 11, 111 to reinforce the carton 5 by increasing the strength and rigidity of the carton to prevent tearing or other failure when the carton is lifted at the handles. It is understood that the carton 5 may have one handle or no handles or that the handles 11, 111 can be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or located without departing from the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, when the carton 5 is closed and the handle 11 activated for grasping of the carton (
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the dispenser panel 87 can be closed by downwardly folding the first and second dispenser flaps 260, 262 so that the corners 240, 242 of the reinforcement insert 205 are placed below the retention tabs 275 to retain the first and second dispenser flaps in the downwardly folded position. Other closing arrangements and retention mechanisms for the dispenser 7 can be provided.
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 blank. The blanks 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 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 to function at least generally as described herein. The blanks 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 embodiments. As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the 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. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure 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 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.
The present application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/189,743, filed Aug. 22, 2008, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61189743 | Aug 2008 | US |
