The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding products, and more particularly, to a carton having multiple compartments.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton for containing at least one product. The carton comprises a back panel, a front panel, a bottom panel, and a top flap. A first compartment is foldably connected to the back panel, and a second compartment is foldably connected to the front panel. The top flap is operable to overlap the first and second compartments of the carton.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton for containing at least one product. The blank comprises a back panel, a front panel, a bottom panel, and a top flap. A first compartment flap is foldably connected to the back panel, and a second compartment flap is foldably connected to the front panel. The top flap is for overlapping a first compartment formed from the first compartment flap and a second compartment formed from the second compartment flap when the blank is formed into the carton.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method for forming a carton for containing at least one product. The method comprises obtaining a blank comprising a back panel, a front panel, a bottom panel, a top flap, a first compartment flap foldably connected to the back panel, and a second compartment flap foldably connected to the front panel. The method further comprises forming a first compartment by folding the first compartment flap with respect to the back panel, forming a second compartment by folding the second compartment flap with respect to the front panel, and at least partially closing the carton by folding the top flap to at least partially overlap the first and second compartments.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present disclosure can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
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 a carton or package that is used to hold various products, such as any suitable consumer product that is suitable for holding in a carton or package for quick access and use. Such products can include women's incontinence products, make-up, diaper wipes, or any other suitable product. Also, food products can be held in the carton such as snacks for infants, toddlers, children, or adults, or any other suitable food product. Further, pet treats such as dog or cat treats, or any other suitable product, can be held in the carton.
The blank 3 includes a longitudinal axis L1 that extends generally in the direction of the length of the blank and a lateral axis L2 that extends generally in the direction of the width of the blank. The blank 3 has a back panel 15, a top flap 17 foldably connected to the back panel at a longitudinal fold line 19, and a bottom panel 21 foldably connected to the back panel 15 at a longitudinal fold line 23. A front panel 27 is foldably connected to the bottom panel 21 at a longitudinal fold line 29.
In the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment, a second (front) compartment flap 61 is foldably connected to the front panel 27 at a lateral fold line 63. The second compartment flap 61 is generally similar to the first compartment flap 31. The second compartment flap 61 comprises a first side panel 65, a compartment panel 67 foldably connected to the first side panel 65 at a fold line 69, and a second side panel 71 foldably connected to the compartment panel 67 at a lateral fold line 73. In one embodiment, the compartment panel 67 of the second compartment flap 61 has a generally U-shaped edge 75 that forms two upper retaining portions 67a, and a lower retaining portion 67b extending between the upper retaining portions. The second compartment flap 61 has a second compartment bottom panel 77 foldably connected to the compartment panel 67 at a longitudinal fold line 79. Second compartment side end flaps 81, 83 are respectively foldably connected to the first and second side panels 65, 71 at the longitudinal fold line 79. A second bottom end flap 85 is foldably connected to the bottom panel 77 at a longitudinal fold line 87.
In the illustrated embodiment an adhesive flap 91 extends between the first and second compartment flaps 31, 61 and is foldably connected to the second side panels 45, 71 at respective lateral fold lines 93, 95.
In one embodiment, the top flap includes four independent moveable portions 17a-17d that allow the top flap to fold over the top of the compartments 7, 9 and conform to the shape of products held in the compartments. The top flap 17 includes respective longitudinal fold lines 99, 101, 103 that separate the respective moveable portions 17a-17d. The longitudinal fold line 103 has two portions that extend from respective ends of a curved cut line 107. The cut line 107 forms an edge of a protrusion 108 in the moveable portion 17d of the top flap 17. The front panel 27 includes a curved cut 110 forming two moveable retention flaps 109, 111 in the front panel.
The blank 3 could have other features and aspects that are not shown by the drawings, or the features and aspects of the drawings that are illustrated could be modified without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
An acceptable method for forming the carton 5 from the blank 3 will be described in the following, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the blank 3 can be erected into the carton 5 by folding the first compartment flap 31 along fold lines 33, 39, 47, and 93 and folding the second compartment flap 61 along fold lines 63, 69, 73, and 95 to form the open ended first and second compartments 7, 9. The adhesive flap 91 is folded to be in face-to-face contact with the back panel 15, bottom panel 21, and front panel 27 and can be secured thereto by suitable adhesive (e.g., glue). The open-ended compartments 7, 9 shown in
Once the front and back compartments 7, 9 are closed with the back panel 15, the bottom panel 21, and the front panel 27 generally in the same plane (
The carton 5 can be opened by withdrawing the protrusion 108 from the cut 110 and upwardly folding the top flap 17 in the direction of arrow A2 (
The blank 203 of
The carton 405 differs from the carton 5 in that the carton of the fourth embodiment is an oblique rectangular prism having a top flap 417 and bottom panel 421 that are oblique relative to the front and back panels 415, 427. In the first embodiment, carton 5 is a rectangular prism with the top 17 and bottom 21 being perpendicular to the front and back panels 15, 17. In the embodiment of
The blank 403 of
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 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. 61/270,923, filed Jul. 15, 2009. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/270,923, which was filed on Jul. 15, 2009, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
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