It is often desirable to serve a large quantity of containers, such as beverage and foodstuff containers, in a chilled condition. It may be desirable or necessary to chill such containers at locations or events for which there is little or no access to refrigerators or freezers, or at events for which it is not desirable to use refrigerators or freezers. For example, a large quantity of beverage and foodstuff containers may be served at parties, cookouts, picnics or vacation spots where it is desired to chill the containers for an extended period of time. In such cases, it is customary to place the containers in a cooler containing ice, which often requires the containers to be removed from their original packaging. In some cases, it would be advantageous to be able to chill containers in their original packaging without having to provide a separate cooler.
In view of the above, it is desirable to provide a carton that is convertible from a first configuration for holding containers during storage and/or transport to a second configuration in which the carton forms a cooler configured to receive ice for chilling and serving the containers.
The disclosure is directed to a carton suitable for holding a plurality of containers and convertible to a configuration suitable for functioning as a cooler.
According to an embodiment, a carton can be converted from a first configuration, in which the carton is a substantially parallelepipedal structure, to a second configuration, in which the carton forms an open-top structure. When the carton is in the first configuration, the carton can comprise a first side panel, a second side panel opposite the first side panel, a bottom panel, a top panel, a first end panel, and a second end panel opposite the first end panel. The top panel can comprise a first outer top panel section foldably connected to the first side panel, a second outer top panel section foldably connected to the second side panel, and at least one central top panel section extending between and detachably connected to the first outer top panel section and the second outer top panel section. When the carton is in the second configuration, the at least one central top panel section is detached from the first outer top panel section and the second outer top panel section and forms a handle configured for carrying the carton. In the second configuration, the first outer top panel section and the second outer top panel section can be folded outwardly to extend upwardly from the first side panel and the second side panel, respectively, thereby forming an open top of the carton, with the handle extending across the open top.
According to an embodiment, a carton can comprise a first side panel, a second side panel opposite the first side panel, a bottom panel, a top panel, a first end panel, and a second end panel opposite the first end panel. The first end panel can include a first upper end closure flap overlapping a first lower end closure flap. The second end panel can include a second upper end closure flap overlapping a second lower end closure flap. A handle can extend in the top panel and can include first and second end portions in the first and second upper end closure flaps, respectively. The handle can be detachable from the top panel, and the first and second end portions of the handle can be at least partially detachable from the first and second upper end closure flaps, respectively.
A blank for forming a carton is also disclosed.
Other features, aspects, and embodiments will be apparent from the following description and accompanying figures.
The disclosure generally relates to cartons suitable for storing and dispensing articles such as, for example, beverage containers, and methods of erecting such cartons from a carton blank. Articles that can be contained by such cartons include, but are not limited to, petaloid bottle containers, beverage cans, glass or plastic bottles, or other containers such as those used in the packaging of juices and other foodstuffs. For purposes of illustration and not limitation, the detailed description below describes one embodiment of the invention within the context of a carton for beverage cans. However, any other appropriate containers or articles might be substituted for the beverage cans within the scope of the invention. Further, references herein to “end,” “side,” “bottom,” and “top” refer to orientations or positions of elements when the carton is erected and disposed in an upright orientation. The terms “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” and “oblique,” and any variations thereof, generally refer to the location and/or orientation of an element or line with respect to a drawing figure in which it appears.
Referring now in more detail to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,
The panels 10, 20, 30 and the panel sections 40, 50, 60, 70 are substantially rectangular in shape. However, the first and second outer top panels 40, 50 and the first and second central top panel sections 60, 70 are not perfectly rectangular, due to the pattern of the tear lines 42, 52 and exterior side edges 62, 72 of the first and second central top panel sections 60, 70. Specifically, the tear lines 42, 52 include vertically extending central segments 42a, 52a, obliquely extending first end segments 42b, 52b and obliquely extending second end segments 42c, 52c. Similarly, the edges 62, 72 include vertically extending central segments 62a, 72a, obliquely extending first end segments 62b, 72b and obliquely extending second end segments 62c, 72c. The tear line 42 and the outer edge 62 are spaced apart in the first central top panel section 60, with the first end segments 42b, 62b diverging from each other and the second end segments 42c, 62c diverging from each other. Similarly, the tear line 52 and the outer edge 72 are spaced apart in the second central top panel 70, with the first end segments 52b, 72b diverging from each other and the second end segments 52c, 72c diverging from each other. Thus, the end portions of the central top panel sections 60, 70 are wider than the central portions of the central top panels 60, 70.
The blank 1 includes a first bottom end panel 100 foldably connected to a first end of the bottom panel 10 along the fold line 16 and a second bottom end panel 110 foldably connected to a second end of the bottom panel 10 along the fold line 18. The first and second bottom end panels 100, 110 can be rectangular in shape. A first lower gusset 120 is foldably connected to a first side of the first bottom end panel 100 along the fold line 12, and a second lower gusset 140 is foldably connected to a second side of the first bottom end panel 100 along the fold line 14. A third lower gusset 130 is foldably connected to a first side of the second bottom end panel 110 along the fold line 12, and a fourth lower gusset 150 is foldably connected to a second side of the second bottom end panel 110 along the fold line 14. In the embodiment shown, the gussets 120, 130, 140, 150 are substantially triangular in shape.
A first bottom end flap 320 is foldably connected to the first bottom end panel 100 along a horizontal fold line 106. A second bottom end flap 330 is foldably connected to the second bottom end panel 110 along a horizontal fold line 116. As shown in
The blank 1 further includes a first side end flap 160, a second side end flap 180, a third side end flap 170, and a fourth side end flap 190. The first and third side end flaps 160, 170 are foldably connected to opposite ends of the first side panel 20 along the fold lines 16, 18, respectively. The second and fourth side end flaps 180, 190 are foldably connected to opposite ends of the second side panel 30 along the fold lines 16, 18, respectively.
The first side end flap 160 includes two flap sections 160a, 160b connected by a fold line 161 extending collinearly from the fold line 22. The second side end flap 180 includes two flap sections 180a, 180b connected by a fold line 181 extending collinearly from the fold line 32. The third side end flap 170 includes two flap sections 170a, 170b connected by a fold line 171 extending collinearly from the fold line 22. The fourth side end flap 190 includes two flap sections 190a, 190b connected by a fold line 191 extending collinearly from the fold line 32. The flap sections 160a, 170a, 180a, 190a are foldably connected to respective lower gussets 120, 130, 140, 150 by oblique fold lines 122, 132, 142, 152.
The blank 1 includes a first upper gusset 200, a second upper gusset 220, a third upper gusset 210, and a fourth upper gusset 230. The first and third upper gussets 200, 210 are foldably connected to opposite ends of the first outer top panel 40 along the fold lines 16, 18, and are foldably connected to respective flap sections 160b, 170b of the first and third side end flaps 160, 170 along oblique fold lines 162, 172. The second and fourth upper gussets 220, 230 are foldably connected to opposite ends of the second outer top panel 50 along the fold lines 16, 18, and are foldably connected to respective panel sections 180b, 190b of the second and fourth side end flaps 180, 190 along oblique fold lines 182, 192.
First and second top attachment panels 240, 260 are foldably connected to first ends of the first and second central top panel sections 60, 70, respectively, along the fold line 16. The first and second top attachment panels 240, 260 are foldably connected to the first and second upper gussets 200, 220 along respective fold-and-tear lines 202, 222, which extend collinearly from the tear lines 42, 52, respectively. First and second top attachment flaps 280, 300 are foldably connected to the first and second top attachment panels 240, 260, respectively, along horizontal fold lines 242, 262. The first top attachment panel 240 and the second top attachment flap 300 can include respective adhesive regions 244, 302 on the outer surface of the blank 1.
Third and fourth top attachment panels 250, 270 are foldably connected to second ends of first and second central top panel sections 60, 70 along the fold line 18, and are foldably connected to the third and fourth upper gussets 210, 230 along fold-and-tear lines 212, 232, which extend collinearly from the tear lines 42, 52, respectively. Third and fourth top attachment flaps 290, 310 are foldably connected to the third and fourth top attachment panel 250, 270, respectively, along horizontal fold lines 252, 272. The third top attachment panel 250 and the fourth top attachment flap 310 can include adhesive regions 254, 312 on the outer surface of the blank 1.
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The first side wall 420 is formed by the first side panel 20 and the first outer top panel section 40 extending substantially vertically above and substantially coplanar with the first side panel 20. The second side panel 30 and the second outer top panel section 50, which extends substantially vertically above and substantially coplanar with the first side panel 30, constitute the second side wall 430. The first end wall 440 is formed by the first lower end closure flap 340, the first and second side end flaps 160, 180, and a portion of the first upper end closure flap 342 (the first and second upper gussets 200, 220 and the first and second top attachment flaps 260, 280). The first and second upper gussets 200, 220, the flap sections 160b, 180b, and the first and second top attachment flaps 260, 280 extend substantially vertically above and substantially coplanar with the first lower end closure flap 340 in the first end wall 440. Similarly, the second end wall 450 is formed by the second bottom end flap 350, the third and fourth side end flaps 170, 190 and a portion of the second upper end closure flap 352 (the third and fourth upper gussets 210, 230 and the third and fourth top attachment flaps 290, 310). The third and fourth upper gussets 210, 230, the flap sections 170b, 180b, and the third and fourth top attachment flaps 290, 310 extend substantially vertically above and substantially coplanar with the second lower end closure flap 350.
The side walls 420, 430 and end walls 440, 450 of the cooler 500 are taller than the side panels 20, 30 and end panels 344, 354 of the carton 400. The interior of the cooler therefore has a depth such that the cooler 500 can be loaded with ice or the like through the open top T for chilling the containers C therein. In order to prevent degradation of the cooler 500 due to the melting of ice contained therein, the inner surface of the blank 1 (
Furthermore, the overlapping arrangement of the top panel sections 60, 70 and the attachment of the first and third top attachment panels 240, 250 to the second and fourth top attachment panels 260, 270, respectively, provide the handle 370 with a durable construction. Secure and durable attachment of the handle 370 to the end walls 440, 450 of the cooler 500 is provided by the attachment of the first and second top attachment flaps 280, 300 to the first and second side end flaps 160, 180, and the attachment of the third and fourth top attachment flaps 290, 310 to the third and fourth side end flaps 170, 190.
The containers C illustrated and described herein are cylindrical cans, and are loaded in the carton 400 and cooler 500 in a four-by-five configuration, with each container C resting on its bottom. However, it should be understood that different types of containers can be stored in the carton 400/cooler 500, and different numbers and configurations of containers are possible. Additionally, each of the above described embodiments, which include gussets at the bottom corners that are folded upon forming the carton, are configured to hold liquids, such as water melting from ice used to chill containers C and to keep those liquids from leaking around the gusseted corners. More specifically, these lower gussets ensure that there is a continuous band or strip of paperboard material extending completely around the bottom portion of the cooler that is uninterrupted by discontinuities or glued areas in the paperboard. Employing gussets in this manner is thus useful in keeping water from leaking from the corners of the carton. Further, the interior surfaces of the cooler may be coated with a material that renders the paperboard resistant to absorption of water at least for a reasonable length of time so that water contained in the cooler is not prone to leak through the paperboard during average use.
The foregoing disclosure provides illustrative embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. As understood by those of skill in the art, the overall invention encompasses other embodiments not specifically enumerated herein. For example, although the carton 400 is shown in the form of a parallelpipedal box, it can alternatively be shaped differently, and likewise the various detachable sections, panel sections, panels and flaps described herein can be shaped and arranged differently.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/109,648, filed Oct. 30, 2008, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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