Patent Application
20100237138
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 reinforced top panel.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is generally directed to a carton containing a plurality of containers. The carton comprises a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a reinforcement panel foldably connected to the second side panel. The reinforcement panel being in face-to-face contact with the top panel.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a reinforcement panel foldably connected to the second side panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. Wherein 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 first top panel and a reinforcement end flap foldably connected to the reinforcement panel. The reinforcement panel is in face-to-face contact with the top panel and the reinforcement end flap is in face-to-face contact with the top end flap.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton. The blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a reinforcement panel foldably connected to the 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 are for being overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially form a closed end of the carton formed from the blank. The at least two end flaps comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel and a reinforcement end flap foldably connected to the reinforcement panel. The reinforcement panel is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with the top panel in the carton formed from the blank, and the reinforcement end flap is for being in face-to-face contact with the top end flap in the carton erected from the blank.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of assembling a carton. The method comprises obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a reinforcement panel foldably connected to the second side panel. The blank further comprises a top end flap foldably connected to the first top panel, and a reinforcement end flap foldably connected to the reinforcement panel. The method comprises forming the blank into an open-ended sleeve by positioning the reinforcement panel in face-to-face contact with the top panel, and positioning the reinforcement end flap in face-to-face contact with the top end flap.
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.
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. Further, 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 opening, dispensing, and handling features for 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, 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 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. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 comprises a bottom panel 15 foldably connected to a first side panel 17 at a first lateral fold line 19, a top panel 23 foldably connected to the first side panel 17 at a second lateral fold line 25, and a second side panel 29 foldably connected to the bottom panel 15 at a third lateral fold line 31. A reinforcement panel 35 is foldably connected to the second side panel 29 at a fourth lateral fold line 37.
The bottom panel 15 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 43 and a second bottom end flap 45. The first side panel 17 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 47 and a second side end flap 49. The top panel 23 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 53 and a second top end flap 55. The second side panel 29 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 57 and a second side end flap 59. The reinforcement panel 35 is foldably connected to a first reinforcement end flap 63 and a second reinforcement end flap 65. When the carton 5 is erected, the end flaps 43, 47, 53, 57, 63 close a first end 72 of the carton, and the end flaps 45, 49, 55, 59, 62 close a second end 74 of the carton. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different flap arrangements can be used for closing the ends of the carton 5.
The end flaps 43, 47, 53, 57 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 1, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line 67 that extends along the length of the blank. The end flaps 45, 49, 55, 59 extend along a second marginal area of the blank 1, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line 69 that also extends along the length of the blank. The longitudinal fold lines 67, 69 may be, for example, substantially straight, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcement end flaps 63, 65 are foldably connected to the reinforcement panel 35 at respective longitudinal fold lines 73, 75. In the illustrated embodiment, the fold lines 73, 75 comprise a plurality of spaced-apart longitudinal cut lines that create five distinct and spaced-apart areas of weakening that are wider than the longitudinal fold lines 67, 69 that are single crease lines. Alternatively, the fold lines 73, 75 could be a single crease line or other form of weakening without departing from the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 3 includes two diamond-shaped corners, generally indicated at 81, at the first end of the carton 5 and two diamond-shaped corners 83 at the second end of the carton. The corners 81, 83 allow respective side panels 17, 29 and side end panels 47, 57, 49, 59 to angle inward toward the interior of the carton 5. The dispenser 7 includes a first dispenser panel 87 (
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcement panel 35 includes two elongate openings 105 and oblique fold lines 107 extending from the openings. The openings 105 are part of the handle features for forming the handle 11 and are positioned to receive the handle flaps 95 when the carton 5 is erected from the blank 3. The oblique fold lines 107 in the reinforcement panel 35 are positioned to be overlapped by the oblique fold lines 101 in the top panel 23 when the carton 5 is erected from the blank 3. Each of the reinforcement end flaps 63, 65 has a respective tab or extension 111, 113 that extends laterally outward from the fold line 73, 75. The reinforcement panel 35 and reinforcement end flaps 63, 65 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the blank 3 can be erected into the carton 5 by folding along fold lines 19, 25, 31, 37, and placing the top panel 23 in an overlapping relationship with the reinforcement panel 35. The reinforcement panel 35 can have glue or other adhesive 117 applied to its exterior surface for adhesively securing the top panel 23 and the reinforcement panel when the top panel and reinforcement panel are placed into face-to-face contact. Alternatively, glue can be placed on the top panel 23, and/or the reinforcement panel 35, or the top panel can be secured by other attachment mechanisms. When the top panel 23 overlaps the reinforcement panel 35, reinforcement flaps 63, 65 are placed into face-to-face contact with a respective top end flap 53, 55. The reinforcement flaps 63, 65 and the top end flaps 53, 55 can be adhesively secured by the adhesive 117 or they can be secured by other attachment mechanisms.
As shown in the partially assembled configuration of
In the illustrated embodiment, the first end of the carton 5 is closed by respectively overlapping and adhering the end flaps 43, 47, 53, 57, 63 after the containers C are inserted into the carton. The second end of the carton 5 is closed by respectively overlapping the end flaps 45, 49, 55, 59, 65. Also, other closing and loading sequences may be used without departing from the disclosure.
The carton 5 of the present disclosure is shaped to hold bottles B in an upright position such that the bottom portions BP of the bottles are supported by the bottom panel 15 and the caps CP at the top portions of the bottles are in contact with or adjacent to the overlapped top panel 23 and reinforcement panel 35. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom panel 15 has a length L1 greater than a length L2 of the top panel 23 so that the closed ends 72, 74 of the cartons are inwardly tapered such that the bottom of each end flap 57, 47 at one end 72 and the bottom portion of each end flap 59, 49 at the other end 74 side contacts, or is closely adjacent, the bottom portions BP of a respective container B, and the downwardly folded end flap 63 at the first end 72 and the downwardly folded end flap 65 at the second end 74 contacts, or is closely adjacent, the cap CP of a respective container. The diamond-shaped corners 81, 83 of the carton 5 allow the top portion of end flap 47, 57, 49, 59 to be angled inward so that the carton 5 is more narrow at the top than at the bottom at each end 72, 74. This narrowing of the length of the carton 5 from the bottom to the top provides two points of contact of the end flaps 63, 65 with the bottles B to hold both the top portion and the bottom portion BP of the bottles in a relatively fixed position to restrict movement of the bottles in the carton. The carton 5 of the illustrated embodiment is a two-sided taper carton, that is the length of the carton at both ends 72, 74 is longer at the bottom than at the top.
As shown in
Alternatively, the carton 5 of the present disclosure could be a four-sided taper carton where the length at both ends is longer at the bottom than at the top at both ends 72, 74, and the width of the bottom panel 15 is greater than the width of the top panel 23 so that the width at both side panels 17, 29 is longer at the bottom of the carton than at the top. A four sided taper carton would have ends 72, 74 that angle inwardly from the bottom to the top and side panels 17, 29 that angle inwardly from the bottom to the top. Also, the carton 5 could be a three-sided taper carton, with only one end 72, 74 or one side panel 17, 29 that angle inwardly from the bottom to the top. Further, the carton could alternatively be without any sides or ends that taper and all four of the ends 72, 74 and side panels 17, 29 could be substantially perpendicular without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
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 blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blank 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. 61/210,292, filed Mar. 17, 2009. U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/210,292, which was filed on Mar. 17, 2009, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61210292 | Mar 2009 | US |
