Patent Grant
9211971
The present disclosure generally relates to cartons or carriers for holding beverage containers or other types of articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cartons with inspection features that allow visual and tactile inspection of the containers or articles.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around the 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 plurality of end flaps is foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The plurality of end flaps is configured to at least partially close an end of the carton. At least one panel of the plurality of panels comprises at least one inspection feature for inspecting the at least one article.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton for containing at least one article. The blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming an interior of a carton formed from the blank. The plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A plurality of end flaps is foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels. The plurality of end flaps is configured to at least partially close an end of the carton formed from the blank. At least one panel of the plurality of panels comprises at least one inspection feature for inspecting the at least one article.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carton. The method comprises obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least one panel of the plurality of panels comprises at least one inspection feature for inspecting the at least one article. The method comprises positioning the plurality of panels to at least partially form an interior of the carton. The method comprises obtaining at least one article; placing the at least one article in the interior of the carton, and positioning the at least one article for inspection through the at least one inspection feature.
Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
The present disclosure generally relates to various features for cartons, cartons, packages, containers, etc., that contain articles such as containers, bottles, cans, boxes, 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, paperboard, composite paperboard and plastic, 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 or carriers 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., brick-shaped containers) 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.
In one embodiment, the blank 3 is sized to form a carton 5 that contains twenty-four containers C or packages in a single layer in a 3×8 arrangement. But, it is understood that the blank 3 and/or carton 5 may be sized and shaped to hold containers C of a different or same quantity in more than one layer and/or in different row/column arrangements (e.g., 1×6, 2×3, 2×6, 2×4, 3×4, 3×6, 2×2, 2×6×2, 2×4×2, 2×9, etc.). In the illustrated embodiment, the carton 5 has at least partially closed ends 6, 8 and inspection features that allow visual and tactile inspection of the containers C.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the panels 11, 13, 17, 21 have respective first end flaps 31, 33, 35, 37 at a first marginal portion of the blank 3 such that the first end flaps are foldably connected to respective panels by a longitudinal fold line 39. The panels 11, 13, 17, 21 have respective second end flaps 41, 43, 45, 47 at a second marginal portion of the blank 3 such that the second end flaps are foldably connected to respective panels by a longitudinal fold line 49. The first end flaps 31, 33, 35, 37 are for closing the first end 6 of the carton 5 and the second end flaps 41, 43, 45, 47 are for closing the second end 8 of the carton. In alternative embodiments, one or more of the first end flaps 31, 33, 35, 37 and second end flaps 41, 43, 45, 47 can be foldably connected to each other at respective fold lines, can be configured to provide at least partially open ends 6, 8, or one or more of the end flaps can have respective gussets or webs foldably connecting adjacent first or second end flaps or one or more of the end flaps can be tuck-in panels or flaps without departing from the disclosure. The end flaps could be otherwise shaped, arranged, configured, and/or omitted without departing from the disclosure.
In one embodiment, the second side panel 17 includes handle features for forming a handle 7 of the carton 5. As shown in
In the embodiment of
In one exemplary method of forming the blank 3 into the carton 5, the blank is first placed with the interior surface facing up and containers C are placed on the bottom panel 11 with the bottoms of the containers in contact with the bottom panel. Prior to or after placing the containers C on the bottom panel 11, the side panels 13, 17 can be upwardly folded relative to the bottom panel and the top panel 21 can be positioned to be in contact with the tops of the containers C. The glue flap 25 can be adhesively attached to the interior surface of the top panel 21. The end flaps 31, 33, 35, 37 can be positioned to be at least partially overlapped to close the first end 6 and the end flaps 41, 43, 45, 47 can be at least partially overlapped to close the second end 8. Alternatively, the carton 5 can be formed by other positioning steps. In one alternative embodiment, the panels 11, 13, 17, 21 can be positioned to form and open-end sleeve, with the containers being loaded into the open-ended sleeve prior to closing one or both of the ends 6, 8.
As shown in
As shown in
In general, the blank may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described above. The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect 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. The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
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.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, 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 or depressed 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.
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. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments, but various other combinations, modifications, and environments are within the scope of the disclosure 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. 61/688,653, filed May 18, 2012. The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/688,653, which was filed May 18, 2012, is incorporated by reference as if presented herein in their entirety, for all purposes.
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