Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
w=,u 1 t.il ~4tu t,! 4 -1h: -. SWx'i t .n
E?,rr,r~,te'~1,; x'51 C~?f12003x DfE~CPAaM~;,'t
u.~i;:l...u.., F l 1..~:.7C;.dn 3. lllu.~~,..~~x.. r ,.....,A:: nf-..°
. m..n. f. ....,7vf..v:..,:11 ~ -".-.n.~~,T.1.~
a. !
r
~t (' f
1
CARTON CONWERTIBLE INTO COMPARTMENTED CONTAINER
The invention relates to cartons, and more specifically to cartons for
articles
which cartons are convertible to compartmented containers. ,
.r..,., . . . . Consumers-yften have.aneed.to_,,..cetne~re an,.arta~cle.from
astorage medium far th~k.~. f~.,;~;
article. For example, an article such as a beverage container is typically
retrieved from
an area where multiples of the articles are stored. For example, in US
3,00,613 there is
shown a carton defined ~by the preamble of claim 1.
Typical starage areas for such articles are food cabinets and pantries,
refrigerationlcooling devices and packages containing multiples of the
articles. Articles
such as beverages in containers are typically purchased and transported in a
package
containing multiples of the articles. Thus, it can be appreciated that it
would be useful to
facilitate removal of an article from a package in which multiples of the
articles are
transported and/or stored '
A $rst aspect of the invention provides a carton which is separable into
adjacent
compartments comprising a tubular wall structure provided, at least in park by
first and
second walls joined by opposing side walls and wherein the structure is
separable into
said adjacent compartments along a circurnferential region ~by which the
adjacent
compartments are joined together by a hinge member having spaced apart lateral
edges
defined by .fold lines extending across said.second-wall: The fold lines
converge ~at: cache ° ; r~ ~--t: -~:~: - . .
of their opposite ends and are spaced~apart to their maximum distance
intermediate their
opposite ends. '
Preferably, the circumferenfaal region extends across said first wall and
opposing
end walls that join said first, second and side walls.
AMEh,~~~~ ~i ~EE~'
~ h.
E r.~.'~' CA 02447664 2003-11-18 . . ~ x~ a r ,1 Ir r
1 Iw,. ~ o~ ,~~~~~~o~
. .:."I~~r u:r,#,~..!:e~:,.GYI: r ; "..,.;i,:,s':~
d " -urc r "~ n . rri r c . ~f { , r ~ ~ - !
j~;I?rrnted~j~~fa7=~~00~' f ~ESGP;P,M17~1
~u~wu.-x,....,~ ,w,.."".d: ,GS.,x". ,f,.:fu
:3us~...,u...~yr3...1'~,f,,»"x.r;4.;H.wS.».,»zu .a;.;:..,...
n
' CA 02447664 2003-11-18
D-3084 _ _ , ,
2
According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the
circumferential region is defined at least in part by a frangible line.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the
circumferential region is defined at least in part by a frangible line and a
tear strip: '
.r .. .. , . According °tb'~aiiother''optio~nal feature ~of thin aspect-
af the invention, the hinge.°~:~ .. ~ .. : ° ; . ,
member is substantially elliptical.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the
hinge
member has an aperture formed therethrough to facilitate lifting.
A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carton, the
blank
comprising a series of adjoining panels for forming a tubular structure for
the erected
cotton; said panels having integrally formed therein a region of separability
transversely
extending along portions of said panels and a hinge-forming region
having~spaced-apart
lateral edges such that the erected tubular structure is separable along said
iegion of
separability into compartments joined by a hinge member having spaced-apart
lateral
edges. The spaced-apart lateral edges converge at each of their opposite ends
and .are
spaced apart to their maximutri distance intermediate their opposite ends.
Preferably, the hinge-forming region and said hinge member are substantially
elliptical.
a". . f .. 1". : .. . ;;~'.~ ~ .. ~;r.... . ._ . . . . . . .. , . . , , t. ~
.,..~..~;~_. . , , . . , .
. ,. x
According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the
hinge-
forming region is defined by weakened lines of demarcation.
According to another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention,
the
panels form opposing first and second walls, opposing side walls and opposing
end walls
A~~~h,s!~=y.J ~H~~T
S,. r l E»I x 1 f ~~ 7
7.
,~~.a~ Cf~T~~~A~~ tG~~~~~~,
LIi~...ma.u....,uw,I.IUYC.n,P.
1 '(1 1 1 . I If F I ~f f, ' S !( 1 P . f
~,I. 'Panted , ~1e I3712n~3 . 'xDES ~~ ~'r~11~~ 1~ f
.~.:," ,".F~_....,1"Y:~v."~',~" .. ~.r .ft_,L,:~~.w:,>:~ I~..H;.GL,...~,'' '~a
' x.I,.;~,v.'.T
"a....[y"..e...n,a.uawa ~..
b
I~-3080 - .- r,
2a
in the erected carton, said region of separability is disposed such that it
extends across
said first wall and opposing end walls of the erected carton, and said hinge-
forming
' region is formed in said second wall.
According to another optional feature of the second. aspect of the invention,
the
region of reparability is defined at least in part by a frangible line.
... .. . s,... u. ?...a;:' ,,. "..... , d-,...:, ,~. t'e~.~ ,..k.:',a
'.Y'~r~,~ °"~ri:.:r , , ~.,. . ~, ..F',."y. . .. , ~. ,~~ ...
Fig. 1 is a plan' view of a blank for forming a carton convertible into a
compartmented container, in accordance with the teachings of a preferred
embodiment of
the invention;
Fig. 2 is an isometric illustration of a carton convertible into a
compartmented
container formable from the blank of Fig. 1, in accordance with the teachings
of a
preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein of a tear strip has been
partially
removed;
Fig. 3 is an illustration of the carton depicted in Fig. 2 as viewed from the
opposite side of the carton and wherein the tear strip has been fully removed;
~,~~ ~l ~ ~ .,'.'f. ri~ ,n
iW a.~'a5..7y'~ Y:J~#'a
~1'f ~ F Ia.,c ~t 'I ~ ,y a
CA 02447664 2003-11-18
~~ kll~t' ~1 g~~~~~i
~'i~ ~~ t,.f~a -
~f
~i
CA 02447664 2003-11-18
WO 02/094677 PCT/US02/15557
3
Fig. 4 is an illustration of the carton shown in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein walls
of the
carton have been separated to form compartments joined by a hinge member; and
Fig. 5 is an illustration of the carton of Figs. 2 and 3 in the opened
condition
illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein the carton is lifted through use of features
taught by the
invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the
same or like features of the invention.
Referring first to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 simultaneously, Fig. 1 illustrates a
blank 10
for forming a carton in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention while
Fig. 2 illustrates a carton 12 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
the
invention formed from the blank of Fig. 1. A discussion of the features of the
blank 10
illustrated in Fig. 1 is useful at this point to help identify the features of
the invention as
embedded in the carton 12. The carton 12 has a tubular structure. In the
preferred
embodiment shown, the tubular structure is formed by opposing top and bottom
walls,
which for convenience of discussion may be referred to as first and second
walls 20, 22,
respectively, and opposing side walls 24, 26a/26b. In the embodiment
illustrated, a
handle 40 is formed in one of the side walls. Ends walls 30134, 32/36
generally enclose
the ends of the structure.
An open-ended tubular structure is first generally formed by adhering the side
wall panels 26a and 26b to one another. Articles A such as beverage containers
are
typically loaded into the open-ended tubular structure by a continuous-motion
packaging machine. Once the carton 12 is loaded, the various end panels and
flaps 30,
32, 34, 36, 42, 44 46a, 46b, 48a, 48b are folded over to provide end closures
for the
carton.
CA 02447664 2003-11-18
WO 02/094677 PCT/US02/15557
4
The carton 12 has a region along which the carton is separable. In the
preferred
embodiment illustrated, a region along which the carton 12 is separable
includes a tear
strip SO and a frangible line S6, S8 such as a perforated line. The separable
region
extends partially around a circumference of the tubular structure. As a
convenient point
S of reference, this will be referred as a longitudinal direction. The
direction has been
described as longitudinal in relation to the orientation of an imaginary axis
for the open
tubular structure that is formed when the side flaps 26a and 26b are joined.
In turn, the
orientation of the handle may be considered to be "transverse" with respect to
the open-
ended tubular structure. The terms longitudinal and transverse may be
interchanged as
points of reference without affecting the scope or teachings of the invention.
The separable region may consist of any structure that allows the carton to be
separated. For example, the separable region may consist of either a tear
strip or a
frangible line alone. However, use of a tear strip SO and a frangible line
S6/S8 in
1 S combination helps prevent the carton from opening prematurely while
facilitating easy
separation of the carton compartments once the tear strip SO has been removed
thus
providing an opening through which separation can be initiated. As an example
of
other alternatives, and not as a limitation, the separable region may also be
defined by a
cut line having an adhesive strip applied thereto to hold the carton together
until
intentionally pulled apart.
Fig. 3 depicts the carton after removal of the tear strip S0. Removal of the
tear
strip 50 provides an opening through which the carton can be manipulated to
separate
one side from the other along the separable region. In addition, the opening
provided
2S by removal of the tear strip in essence provides a starter area for the
separation of the
carton into compartments.
Referring now to Fig. 4, therein is illustrated the carton as separated and
divided
into compartments 14, 16. The compartments 14, 16 are joined by a hinge member
S2.
The hinge member S2 has transverse edges that are spaced apart from one
another. This
helps produce a strong hinge for supporting the compartments. The compartments
14,
16 may be lifted by the hinge structure by grasping the inside of the bottom
(or second)
CA 02447664 2003-11-18
WO 02/094677 PCT/US02/15557
wall 22 about the hinge member 52. However, a simple, perhaps more convenient
lifting mechanism is provided by an aperture 54 formed in the hinge member 52.
An
individual may lift the compartments by inserting a finger through the
aperture and
lifting upward as illustrated in Fig. 5.
In use, a carton 12 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention as
described above is formed from the blank 10 or otherwise is generally first
formed into
an open-ended tubular structure. Then, cans are loaded in from the ends and
the carton
12 is placed in enclosed condition. Once the tear strip 50 is removed as
illustrated in
Figs. 2 and 3, the carton 12 can be separated along the frangible line 56!58
into the
compartments 14, 16 illustrated in Fig. 4. The hinge member 52 has spaced-
apart
lateral edges that provide both a strong hinge structure and a bridge between
the two
compartments 14, 16. The opened carton 12 can then be lifted through the hinge
member. A simple manner of lifting is to grasp the inside surfaces of the U-
shaped
structure formed by the hinge member 52. A more convenient yet simple lifting
mechanism is provided through placement of an aperture 54 in the hinge member
52.
With the aperture 54, the carton 12 is simply lifted by insertion of the
finger of a user
through the aperture 54.
Thus, in the manner described above, a package containing multiples of
articles
such as beverage containers is convertible into a compartmented container from
which
individual ones of the articles can be retrieved. Because the package is
easily
transported after it has been converted into a compartmented container, it may
be
carned around by hand and used as a serving unit for the articles. In
addition, the
compartmented container formed can be easily placed in a storage area such as
a food
cabinet or pantry or a refrigeration unit where the articles may be maintained
as an
aggregation from which individual units may be easily removed.
Use of terms such as top, bottom, side, end, longitudinal and transverse are
used
for convenience and to provide a point of reference in the description of the
preferred
embodiment of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the
invention.
Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope
and
CA 02447664 2003-11-18
WO 02/094677 PCT/US02/15557
6
spirit of the claimed invention. For example, the hinge member has spaced-
apart lateral
edges and in a preferred embodiment described above is substantially
elliptical. The
tapered ends of the substantially elliptical configuration help provide a
transition from
the carton end walls and bottom wall to the hinge member. However, the hinge
member may have other configurations, such as substantially rectangular.
