Patent Application
20120080328
The entire contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/711,555, filed Feb. 24, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/208,462, which was filed on Feb. 24, 2009, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.
The present disclosure generally relates to packages or cartons for holding and carrying containers.
In general, one aspect of the disclosure is generally directed to a package for holding a plurality of containers. The package has a top panel and a side panel. The package has retention features for retaining the containers.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a package for holding a plurality of containers. The package comprises panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the package. The panels comprise a top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel. At least one feature is in the top panel that receives and holds a top portion of at least one container of the plurality of containers. The at least one feature comprises an opening in the top panel and a retention feature adjacent the opening to engage at least one container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the at least one container to the package.
In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a package for holding a plurality of containers. The blank comprises panels that comprise a top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel. The panels are for forming an interior of the package formed from the blank. At least one feature is in the top panel that is for receiving and holding a top portion of at least one container of the plurality of containers in the package formed from the blank. The at least one feature comprises an opening in the top panel and a retention feature adjacent the opening for engaging the at least one container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the at least one container to the package.
In another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a method of forming a package for containing a plurality of containers. The method comprises providing a blank having a top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel, at least one feature in the top panel that comprises an opening in the top panel and a retention feature adjacent the opening. The method comprises inserting at least a top portion of a container through the opening and engaging the top portion of the container with the retention feature to at least partially attach the container to the package.
In another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a package for holding a plurality of containers. The package comprises panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the package. The panels comprise a top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel. A plurality of features in the top panel receives and holds top portions of the plurality of containers. Each of the plurality of features comprises an opening in the top panel wherein the top panel has at least two edges at least partially forming a respective opening to engage a respective container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the respective container to the package. The at least two edges are in contact with an underside of a flange of the respective container.
In another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a blank for forming a package for holding a plurality of containers. The blank comprises panels that comprise a top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel. The panels are for forming an interior of the package formed from the blank. A plurality of features in the top panel is for receiving and holding top portions of the plurality of containers in the package formed from the blank. Each of the plurality of features comprises an opening in the top panel wherein the top panel has at least two edges at least partially forming a respective opening. Each of the at least two edges is for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers to at least partially attach the respective container to the package. The at least two edges are for being in contact with an underside of a flange of the respective container in the package formed from the blank.
In another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a method of forming a package for containing a plurality of containers. The method comprises obtaining a blank having a top panel and at least one side panel foldably connected to the top panel. A plurality of features in the top panel. Each of the plurality of features comprises an opening in the top panel. The top panel has at least two edges at least partially forming a respective opening. The method comprises inserting a top portion of a respective container through a respective opening and engaging the top portion of the respective container with the at least two edges to at least partially attach the respective container to the package. The engaging the top portion of the respective container comprises contacting the at least two edges with an underside of a flange of the respective container.
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.
According to common practice, 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 constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, and packages for holding and displaying containers such as 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, aluminum and/or other metals, plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; glass; or any combination thereof
Packages 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 beverage containers (e.g., generally cylindrical containers such as aluminum cans) at least partially disposed within the package embodiments. In this specification, the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected packages.
The present embodiments are addressed to cartons or packages for attachment to and accommodation of containers. A package or carrier 5 of a first embodiment is illustrated in its erected state in
In the embodiment of
The cut lines 39 cooperate to form retention edges 42 (broadly “retention feature”) of the opening 7 in the top panel 17 that engages a flange F of the container C. In the illustrated embodiment, each receptacle 37 includes four generally arcuate retention edges that each engage a portion of the flange F of the container C to retain the container in the carton. The retention edges 42 are separated by a respective strip 43 between respective ends of the cuts 39 that attaches the interior panel 41 to the top panel 17.
In the illustrated embodiment, the blank 13 includes end flaps 53, 55 foldably connected to a respective end panel 19, 23 at a longitudinal fold line 57, 59. A gusset panel 61, 63 is respectively connected to the end flaps 53, 55 at a respective oblique fold line 65, 67. Each gusset panel 61, 63 is respectively foldably connected to a side panel 27, 31 at a respective lateral fold line 69, 71.
To form the package 50 in accordance with one acceptable method, the containers C are inserted into a respective receptacle 37 so that the top surface of the flanges F of the containers contact the interior panels 41 of the receptacles to raise the interior panels and form the openings 7 in the top panel 17. The flanges F of the containers C are positioned as shown in
Glue or other adhesive can be applied to one or more of the panels and/or flaps of the blank 13 to secure the package 5 in the folded condition. Also, the package 5 can include handle or reinforcement features as illustrated in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/253,485 filed Oct. 17, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Further, the package 5 could include dispensing features for facilitating removal of the containers C from the package. The blank 13 could be otherwise shaped and/or arranged and the package 5 could have features that are otherwise shaped and/or arranged without departing from the disclosure.
In the embodiment of
The blank 213 includes a top panel 217 having receptacles 237 similar to the receptacles 137 of the previous embodiment. In the embodiment of
The blank 313 includes receptacles 337 that have openings 341 in the top panel 317. The receptacles 337 include tabs 343 adjacent respective longitudinal sides of the openings 341. The tabs 343 are defined by curved fold lines 340 in the top panel. The openings 341 have curved edges 339, formed by correspondingly shaped curved cuts lines in the blank 313, that extend generally in the longitudinal direction L1. As shown in
The blank 413 includes receptacles 437 that have openings 441 in the top panel 417. The openings 441 are generally star-shaped and are formed by respective edges 439. The edges 439 of the openings 441 have curved portions that form respective foldable flaps 444 that are adjacent the openings 441. The foldable flaps 444 protrude into a respective opening 441 and engage an underside of a respective flange F of the containers C. The tabs 443 between the openings 441 are defined by longitudinal fold line 440. In the illustrated embodiment, each receptacle 437 includes eight foldable flaps 444. The blank 413 could be otherwise shaped and/or arranged and the package 405 could have features that are otherwise shaped and/or arranged without departing from the disclosure.
The blank 513 includes receptacles 537 similar to the receptacles 437 of the previous embodiment. The openings 541 have an edge 539 that is similar in shape as the edge 439 of the previous embodiment. Foldable flaps 544 are formed by portions of the edge 539 adjacent the opening 541. The foldable flaps 544 protrude into a respective opening 541 and engage an underside of a respective flange F of the containers C. In the embodiment of
The blanks according to the present disclosure can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank. In accordance with the above-described embodiments, the blanks may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described herein. The blanks can also be laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, 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 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.
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.
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 is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/711,555, filed on Feb. 24, 2010, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/208,462, which was filed on Feb. 24, 2009.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61208462 | Feb 2009 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12711555 | Feb 2010 | US |
| Child | 13324468 | US |
