The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding and dispensing beverage containers, cans, or other types of articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cartons that clip onto a flange of one or more containers.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is generally directed to a package comprising a carrier holding at least one container. The at least one container can comprise a rim portion and a body portion. The carrier comprises a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first bottom panel connected to the first side panel by at least one first strut, and a second bottom panel connected to the second side panel by at least one second strut. The carrier further can comprise at least one container-receiving portion comprising a first retaining feature and an opposing second retaining feature. At least a portion of at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature is disposed in the first side panel or the second side panel. The rim portion of the at least one container can be at least partially retained by at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature. At least a portion of at least one of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is at least partially disposed between a top portion of the at least one container and the top panel.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carrier for at least partially holding at least one container. The at least one container can comprise a rim portion and a body portion. The blank comprises a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first bottom panel connected to the first side panel by at least one first strut, and a second bottom panel connected to the second side panel by at least one second strut. The blank further can comprise receiving features for forming at least one container-receiving portion comprising a first retaining feature and an opposing second retaining feature in the carrier formed from the blank. At least a portion of at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature is disposed in the first side panel or the second side panel in the carrier formed from the blank. At least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature is for at least partially retaining the rim portion of the at least one container in the carrier formed from the blank. At least a portion of at least one of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is for being at least partially disposed between a top portion of the at least one container and the top panel.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of assembling a carrier. The method can comprise obtaining a blank comprising a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first bottom panel connected to the first side panel by at least one first strut, and a second bottom panel connected to the second side panel by at least one second strut. The method further can comprise positioning the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel to be at least partially overlapped by the top panel, and positioning the at least one container so that at least a portion of at least one of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is at least partially disposed between a top portion of the at least one container and the top panel. The method can also comprise forming at least one container-receiving portion by folding at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel inwardly and forming a first retaining feature and an opposing second retaining feature so that the rim portion of the at least one container is at least partially retained by at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature. At least a portion of at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature is disposed in the first side panel or the second side panel.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present disclosure can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description, 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 carriers, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, and packages for holding and displaying containers such as cups, jars, bottles, cans, etc. The containers can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The containers 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, plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; glass; or any combination thereof.
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the containers can include a rim portion, which can be at or near the top end of the respective container. The rim portion can include a rim, such as a flange extending from a single-serving cup (e.g., the containers C1 in
Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate containers of numerous different shapes. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes food product containers (e.g., plastic containers or aluminum cans) at least partially disposed within the carrier embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers or packages.
The present embodiments are addressed to carriers or packages for attachment to and accommodation of containers. A carton or carrier 150 is illustrated in its erected state in
Referring to
One or more cuts may be included in each of the transverse fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51 to facilitate folding along the fold lines. Any number of cuts may be formed in any of the fold lines, and the number and length of the cuts may be selected according to, for example, the gauge and/or the stiffness of the material used to form the blank 8. The fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51 may be formed by other methods (e.g., crease lines without cuts) without departing from the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 8 includes two receiving features forming respective container-receiving portions 12 arranged in a single row. Each container-receiving portion 12 is shaped and sized to receive an upper portion of a container C1 that is to be held within the erected carrier 150. In the exemplary embodiment, two containers C1 are accommodated in the erected carrier 150, forming the 1×2 package 160. Other package configurations, such as 1×3, 1×4, or 2×2, etc., are also within the scope of the present disclosure. The receiving features of each container-receiving portion 12 include a first tab 16 extending across the first transverse fold line 21 and a second tab 18 extending across the third transverse fold line 41, opposite to the first tab 16. The first tabs 16 are each defined by a tear line or cut line 17, extending in the top panel 10 and into the side panel 20. Similarly, the second tabs 18 are each defined by a tear line or cut line 19 extending in the top panel 10 and into the side panel 40. In the erected carrier, the tabs 16, 18 separate from the respective side panels 20, 40 at the respective cut lines 17, 19 to respectively form retaining features in the form of opposing side openings 22, 42 with respective bottom or retaining edges 25, 45 in the respective side panels 20, 40 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the first bottom panel 30 is connected to the first side panel 20 by two first outer struts 32 and a first inner strut 34. An opening 36 is defined between each first outer strut 32 and the first inner strut 34. The openings 36 can be further defined between an inner edge 33 of the first bottom panel 30 and an inner edge 23 of the first side panel 20. Each opening 36 is generally aligned with a respective container-receiving portion 12 so that at least a portion of a first outer strut 32 and the first inner strut 34 are disposed on either side of the respective container-receiving portion. The first struts 32, 34 are each foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at the transverse fold line 31 and to the first bottom panel 30 at the transverse fold lines 35. As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the second bottom panel 50 is connected to the second side panel 40 by two second outer struts 52 and a second inner strut 54. An opening 56 is defined between each second outer strut 52 and the second inner strut 54. The openings 56 can be further defined between an inner edge 53 of the second bottom panel 50 and an inner edge 43 of the second side panel 40. Each opening 56 is generally aligned with a respective container-receiving portion 12 so that at least a portion of a second outer strut 52 and the second inner strut 54 are disposed on either side of the respective container-receiving portion. Each of the second outer struts 52 are further generally aligned with the respective first outer struts 32, and the second inner strut 54 is generally aligned with the first inner strut 34. The second struts 52, 54 are each foldably connected to the second side panel 40 at the transverse fold line 51 and to the second bottom panel 50 at the transverse fold lines 55. As shown in
In an alternative embodiment, more than one inner strut 34, 54 can be included in each set of inner and outer struts. For example, an alternative carrier having four container-receiving portions in a single row can include three inner struts disposed between each set of outer struts. In a further alternative, a carrier can include one container-receiving portion and no inner struts.
An exemplary method of erection of the carrier 150 to form the package 160 is discussed below with reference to
Further, as the side panels 20, 40 fold inwardly, retaining features (e.g., the side openings 22, 42) are formed in the respective side panels 20, 40 adjacent the respective tabs 16, 18 extending from the top panel 10. As shown in
Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the containers C1 can be retained in the carrier 150 without requiring adhesives or other fasteners. Instead, the containers C1 are supported at the flanges F by the retaining edges 25, 45 of the respective side openings 20, 40 and retained at the bodies B by the side panels 20, 40, which can squeeze the bodies B therebetween. Any force tending to pull one or more of the containers C1 away from the carrier 150 can be resisted by the retaining edges 25, 45 engaging the flanges F. Any force tending to pull one or both of the side panels 20, 40 away from the containers C1 can be resisted by the respective bottom panels 30, 50 via the respective struts 32, 34 and 52, 54, the bottom panels being retained between the flanges F and the top panel 10. In an alternative embodiment, the carrier 150 can be otherwise arranged or erected without departing from the present disclosure. For example, one or both of the bottom panels can be glued to the top panel.
The erected package 160 is shown in
Referring to
One or more cuts may be included in each of the transverse fold lines 221, 231, 241, 251 to facilitate folding along the fold lines. Any number of cuts may be formed in any of the fold lines, and the number and length of the cuts may be selected according to, for example, the gauge and/or the stiffness of the material used to form the blank 208. The fold lines 221, 231, 241, 251 may be formed by other methods (e.g., crease lines without cuts) without departing from the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 208 includes receiving features for forming two container-receiving portions 212 arranged in a single row. Each container-receiving portion 212 is shaped and sized to receive an upper portion of a container C2 that is to be held within the erected carrier 350. In the exemplary embodiment, two containers C2 are accommodated in the erected carrier 350, forming the 1×2 package 360. Other package configurations, such as 1×3, 1×4, or 2×2, etc. are also within the scope of the present disclosure. The receiving features of each container-receiving portion 212 include a first tab 216 extending across the first transverse fold line 221 and a second tab 218 extending across the third transverse fold line 241, opposite to the first tab 216. The first tabs 216 are each defined by a tear line or cut line 217, extending in the top panel 210 and into the side panel 220. Similarly, the second tabs 218 are each defined by a tear line or cut line 219 extending in the top panel 210 and into the side panel 240. In the erected carrier 350, the tabs 216, 218 separate from the respective side panels 220, 240 at the respective cut lines 217, 219 to respectively form retaining features in the form of opposing side openings 222, 242 with respective bottom or retaining edges 225, 245 in the respective side panels 220, 240 (
As shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the first bottom panel 230 is connected to the first side panel 220 by two first outer struts 232 and a first inner strut 234. An opening 236 is defined between each first outer strut 232 and the first inner strut 234. The openings 236 can be further defined between an inner edge 233 of the first bottom panel 230 and an inner edge 223 of the first side panel 220. Each opening 236 is generally aligned with a respective container-receiving portion 212 so that at least a portion of a first outer strut 232 and the first inner strut 234 are disposed on either side of the respective container-receiving portion. The first struts 232, 234 are each foldably connected to the first side panel 220 at the transverse fold line 231 and to the first bottom panel 230 at the transverse fold lines 235. As shown in
As shown in
The second bottom panel 250 is connected to the second side panel 240 by two second outer struts 252 and a second inner strut 254. An opening 256 is defined between each second outer strut 252 and the second inner strut 254. The openings 256 can be further defined between an inner edge 253 of the second bottom panel 250 and an inner edge 243 of the second side panel 240. Each opening 256 is generally aligned with a respective container-receiving portion 212 so that at least a portion of a second outer strut 252 and the second inner strut 254 are disposed on either side of the respective container-receiving portion. Each of the second outer struts 252 are further generally aligned with the respective first outer struts 232, and the second inner strut 254 is generally aligned with the first inner strut 234. The second struts 252, 254 are each foldably connected to the second side panel 240 at the transverse fold line 251 and to the second bottom panel 250 at the transverse fold lines 255. As shown in
As shown in
According to the second embodiment as illustrated in
An exemplary method of erection of the carrier 350 to form the package 360 is discussed below with reference to
Further, as the side panels 220, 240 fold inwardly, the retaining features (e.g., the side openings 222, 242) are formed in the respective side panels 220, 240 adjacent the respective tabs 216, 218 extending from the top panel 210. When the chime R of each container C2 engages the openings 222, 242, the respective retaining edges 225, 245 engage an outer portion of the underside of each chime R (
Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the containers C2 can be retained in the carrier 350 without requiring adhesives or other fasteners. Instead, the containers C2 are supported at the chimes R by the retaining edges 225, 245 of the respective side openings 220, 240 and retained at the bodies B by the side panels 220, 240, which squeeze the bodies B therebetween. Any force tending to pull one or more of the containers C2 away from the carrier 350 is resisted by the retaining edges 225, 245 and the edges 261 of the extensions 238, 258 engaging the chimes R. Any force tending to pull one or both of the side panels 220, 240 away from the containers C2 is resisted by the respective bottom panels 230, 250 via the respective struts 232, 234 and 252, 254, the bottom panels being retained between the chimes R and the top panel 210. The engagement of the locking flaps 262 and the locking apertures 264 helps prevent the bottom panels 230, 250 from moving away from one another toward the respective side panels 220, 240. Accordingly, the locking features further can resist movement of the side panels 220, 240 away from the containers C2.
The erected package 360 is shown in
Referring to
One or more cuts may be included in each of the transverse fold lines 621, 631, 641, 651 to facilitate folding along the fold lines. Any number of cuts may be formed in any of the fold lines, and the number and length of the cuts may be selected according to, for example, the gauge and/or the stiffness of the material used to form the blank 608. The fold lines 621, 631, 641, 651 may be formed by other methods (e.g., crease lines without cuts) without departing from the disclosure.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 608 includes receiving features for forming the retention features in the carrier 750. The receiving features can include two first tabs 616 extending across the first transverse fold line 621 and two second tabs 618 extending across the third transverse fold line 641, opposite to the respective first tabs 616. The first tabs 616 are each defined by a tear line or cut line 617 extending in the top panel 610 and into the side panel 620. Similarly, the second tabs 618 are each defined by a tear line or cut line 619 extending in the top panel 610 and into the side panel 640. In the erected carrier, the tabs 616, 618 separate from the respective side panels 620, 640 at the respective cut lines 617, 619 to respectively form retaining features in the form of opposing side openings 622, 642 with respective bottom or retaining edges 625, 645 in the respective side panels 620, 640 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the first bottom structure 670 can include a first bottom panel 630, a first divider panel 674, and a first end panel 676. The first bottom panel 630 is connected to the first side panel 620 by two first outer struts 632 and a first inner strut 634. An opening 636 is defined between each first outer strut 632 and the first inner strut 634. The openings 636 can be further defined between a first edge 633 of the first bottom panel 630 and an inner edge 623 of the first side panel 620. The first struts 632, 634 are each foldably connected to the first side panel 620 at the transverse fold line 631 and to the first bottom panel 630 at the transverse fold lines 635. As shown in
The first divider panel 674 can be connected to the first bottom panel 630 by two second outer struts 678 and a second inner strut 680. The second struts 678, 680 are generally aligned with and similarly or identically shaped as the respective first struts 632, 634. The second struts 678, 680 are foldably connected to the first bottom panel 630 at transverse fold lines 679 and the first divider panel 674 at transverse fold line 675. Openings 682 can be defined between the second struts 678, 680. The first end panel is foldably connected to the first divider panel at a transverse fold line 677, and a first divider opening 684 can be defined between the first end panel 676 and each of two retaining edges 685 of the first divider panel 674, interrupting the fold line 677. An opening 686 can also be defined in the first divider panel 674 and the first end panel 676.
As shown in
The second divider panel 688 can include two arcuate edges 687 that form openings 692 between the second divider panel 688 and the second bottom panel 650. The arcuate edges 687 also form two outer strut portions 694 and an inner strut portion 696 of the second divider panel. The second divider panel 688 can be connected to the second bottom panel 650 by transverse fold lines 689. The strut portions 694, 696 are generally aligned with the respective third struts 652, 654. The second divider panel 688 can be connected to the second end panel 690 by two fourth outer struts 698 and a fourth inner strut 699. The fourth struts 698, 699 are foldably connected to the second divider panel 688 at a transverse fold line 693 and the second end panel 690 at transverse fold lines 695, which extend in the second end panel 690 and are spaced apart from the laterally-extending edges of the second end panel. Two divider flaps 702 can be foldably connected to the second divider panel 688 at the transverse fold line 693, and can extend to the second end panel 690 between the respective fourth outer struts 698 and the fourth inner strut 699. A second divider opening 704 can be defined between a retaining edge 705 of each of the divider flaps 702 and the second end panel 690. The divider flaps 702 can be further separated from the second end panel 690 along cut lines 703 or other forms of weakening. Further, a cut line 707 can extend between each of the struts 698, 699 and the respective divider flaps 702. The divider flaps can be alternatively configured or omitted without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment, more than one inner strut 634, 654, 680, 696, 699 can be included in each set of inner and outer struts. For example, an alternative carrier configured to hold six containers in two rows can include two inner struts disposed between each set of outer struts. In a further alternative, a carrier can be configured to hold two containers in a single row, and the inner struts can be omitted.
An exemplary method of erection of the carrier 750 to form the package 760 is discussed below with reference to
As shown in
Further, as the side panels 620, 640 fold inwardly, retaining features (e.g., the side openings 622, 642) are formed in the respective side panels 620, 640 adjacent the respective tabs 616, 618 extending from the top panel 610. As shown in
The erected carrier 750 holding two containers C1 to form the package 760 is shown in
In the second container-receiving portion 612b, the flange F is retained against the second bottom panel 650 and the first end panel 676 by the retaining edge 645 of the side opening 642 in the second side 640 and the retaining edge 685 of the divider panel 674. Accordingly, the openings 642, 684 and the retaining edges 645, 685 at least partially form the retaining features of the second container-receiving portion 612b (e.g., the openings 642 and the retaining edges 645 are outer retaining features, and the openings 684 and the retaining edges 685 are inner retaining features). In addition, or alternatively, the flange F of the container in one container-receiving portion 612a can overlap the flange F of the adjacent container-receiving portion 612b so that the retaining edge 705 of one of the divider flaps 702 retains two flanges F. Alternatively, flange of the container in the container-receiving portion 612b can be retained by the edge 705 of one of the divider flaps 702 directly. As shown in
Accordingly, in the illustrated embodiment, the containers C1 can be retained in the carrier 750 without requiring adhesives or other fasteners. Instead, the containers C1 are supported at the flanges F by the retaining edges 625, 645 of the respective side openings 620, 640, the retaining edges 685 of the divider panel 674, and the bottom edges 705 of the divider flaps 702. The containers C1 can be retained at the bodies B by the side panels 620, 640 and the divider 714, which squeeze the bodies B therebetween. Any force tending to pull one or more of the containers C1 away from the carrier 750 can be resisted by one or more of the edges 625, 645, 685, 705 engaging the flanges F. Any force tending to pull one or both of the side panels 620, 640 away from the containers C1 is resisted by the respective bottom panels 630, 650 via the respective struts 632, 634 and 652, 654, wherein the bottom panels are retained between the flanges F and the top panel 610. Further, the positioning of the divider 714 is reinforced by the interaction of the locking tabs 662 with the edges of the first divider panel 674 at the openings 684 and the protuberances 718 of the second end panel 690 with the second inner strut 680.
The top panel 610, the side panels 620, 640, and the bottom structures 670, 672 can be otherwise arranged or interconnected, and the container-receiving portions 612a, 612b and the divider 714 can be alternatively formed without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, the containers C1 can be alternatively inserted into and retained by the container-receiving portions 612a, 612b without departing from this disclosure. For example, two containers C1 can be inserted first, one into a container-receiving portion 612a and one into an adjacent container-receiving portion 612b, and two additional containers C1 can be inserted subsequently. Alternatively, all containers C1 can be inserted into respective container-receiving portions 612a, 612b at the same time.
In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 750 is open-ended, and the side panels 620, 640 extend generally downwardly from the top panel 610. The side panels can also at least partially conform to the shape of the containers C1. A user can easily grasp the carrier 750 at the finger hole 614 and at the bottom edges of the side panels 620, 640 or at the open ends in order to carrier the package 760. In an alternative embodiment, one or more end panels can be foldably connected to one or more of the top panel 610, the side panels 620, 640, and the bottom panels 630, 650.
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 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. 61/458,931, filed Dec. 3, 2010. The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/458,931, which was filed on Dec. 3, 2010, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.
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