Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARTON WITH HANDLE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/122,857,
filed October 31, 2014.
INCORPATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/122,857, which was filed on
October 31, 2014, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if
presented herein in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to cartons for holding
and carrying articles such as
beverage containers and/or other articles. More specifically, the present
disclosure relates to cartons
having a handle comprising a material that is different than the material of
the carton.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton
for containing at least one
article. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least
partially around an interior of the
carton. The plurality of panels includes a first side panel, a top panel, a
second side panel, and at least
one bottom panel. The carton includes a plurality of end flaps for at least
partially closing an end of the
carton. The carton further includes a handle in at least one panel of the
plurality of panels. The handle
has a handle opening in the at least one panel and a handle strap attached to
the carton that extends
across the opening. The handle strap can be a different material than the at
least one panel.
[0005] In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank
for forming a carton. The
blank includes a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a top
panel, a second side panel, and
at least one bottom panel. The blank includes a plurality of end flaps for at
least partially closing an
end of the carton formed from the blank and handle features in at least one
panel of the plurality of
panels. The handle features include a handle opening in the at least one panel
and a handle strap
attached to the blank that extends across the opening. The handle strap
comprises a different material
than the at least one panel.
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[0006] In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a
method of assembling a carton. The
method includes obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels. The
plurality of panels includes a
first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom
panel. The blank further
includes a plurality of end flaps and a handle in at least one panel of the
plurality of panels. The handle
comprises a handle opening in the at least one panel and a handle strap
attached to the blank that
extends across the opening. The handle strap comprises a different material
than the at least one panel.
The method includes forming an interior of the carton at least partially
defined by the plurality of
panels. The method further includes inserting a plurality of articles into the
interior of the carton and at
least partially overlapping the plurality of end flaps to at least partially
form a closed end of the carton.
[0007] 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] 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.
[0009] Fig. 1 is an interior plan view of a blank used to form a carton
in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0010] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of
Fig. 1 according to a first
embodiment of the disclosure.
[0011] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a carton according to a second
embodiment of the disclosure.
[0012] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference
numbers throughout the
drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0013] The present invention generally relates to 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.
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[0014] Cartons according to the present invention can accommodate articles
of any shape. For the
purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the
invention, the following
detailed description describes beverage containers as disposed within the
carton embodiments. In
this specification, the terms "inner," "interior," "outer," "exterior,"
"lower," "bottom," "upper," and
"top" indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and
upright cartons.
[0015] Fig. 1 is a plan view of the interior side 1 of a blank, generally
indicated at 3, used to form a
carton 5 (Fig. 2) according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The
carton 5 can be used to
house a plurality of articles such as containers C (Fig. 2). The carton 5 has
a handle, generally
indicated at 11, for grasping and carrying the carton. In one illustrated
embodiment, the carton 5 is
sized to house twelve containers in one layer in a 3x4 arrangement, but it is
understood that the carton
may be sized and shaped to hold containers of a different or same quantity in
a single layer, more than
two layers, and/or in different row/column arrangements (e.g., 1x6, 3x6, 2x6,
4x6, 2x3x4, 2x6x2, 2x9,
3x5, 3x5x2, etc.). In one embodiment, the containers C are cans, but other
types of containers (e.g.,
bottles) can be used in the carton 5. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the
carton 5 comprises a first
material (e.g., paperboard or other suitable material) and the handle 11
comprises a second material
(e.g., fabric, woven material, non-woven material, woven metallic fabric that
may include ferrous or
nonferrous metals, etc., or any other suitable material).
[0016] The blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L 1 extending generally in the
direction of the length of
the blank and a lateral axis L2 extending generally in the direction of the
width of the blank. The blank
3 includes a top panel 23 foldably connected to a first side panel 25 at a
lateral fold line 27. The top
panel 23 is foldably connected to a second side panel 29 at a lateral fold
line 31. A first bottom panel
33 is foldably connected to the first side panel 25 at a lateral fold line 35.
A second bottom panel 37 is
foldably connected to the second side panel 29 at a lateral fold line 39. In
one embodiment, the first
and second bottom panels 33, 37 can at least partially overlap in the erected
carton.
[0017] The top panel 23 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 49
and a second top end flap 51.
The first side panel 25 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 53 and
a second side end flap 55.
The second side panel 29 is foldably connected to a third side end flap 57 and
a fourth side end flap 59.
The first bottom panel 33 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 61
and a second bottom end
flap 63. The second bottom panel 37 is foldably connected to a third bottom
end flap 65 and a fourth
bottom end flap 67. When the carton 5 is erected, the end flaps 49, 53, 57,
61, 65 close a first end 68 of
the carton, and the end flaps 51, 55, 59, 63, 67 close a second end 69 of the
carton. In accordance with
an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different panel and flap
arrangements can be used
for at least partially closing the ends 68, 69 of the carton 5.
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[0018] The end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61, 65 of the first end 68 extend along
a first marginal area of the
blank 3, and the end flaps 51, 55, 59, 63, 67 of the second end 69 extend
along a second marginal area
of the blank 3. The end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61, 65 are foldably connected to
respective panels 23, 25, 29,
33, 37 at respective longitudinal fold lines 71, 73, 75, 77, 79. The end flaps
51, 55, 59, 63, 67 are
foldably connected to respective panels 23, 25, 29, 33, 37 at respective
longitudinal fold lines 81, 83,
85, 87, 89. In one embodiment, the top end flaps 49, 51 each include a base
portion 50, 52 and a distal
portion 54, 56 foldably connected to the base portion at a respective
longitudinal fold line 58, 60.
Similarly, the bottom end flaps 61, 63, 65, 67 have distal portions 70
foldably connected to base
portions 72 at longitudinal fold lines 74. The end flaps 49, 51, 53, 55, 57,
59, 61, 63, 65, 67 can be
alternatively shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or omitted without departing
from the disclosure.
[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the features that form the handle
11 can include a handle
opening 101 in the top panel 23 and a handle strap 103 extending across the
handle opening. In one
embodiment, the handle strap 103 is attached to the panel 23 at attachment
regions 105, 107 located at
respective ends of the handle strap. The attachment regions 105, 107 include
portions of the handle
strap 103 that are in face-to-face contact with the top panel 23 and are
attached to the top panel 23 by
adhesive such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment the attachment regions
105, 107 of the handle
strap 103 are attached to the top panel 23 and do not extend into the end
flaps 49, 51, but the handle
strap 103 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and configured such as to being
elongated and
extending across the fold lines 71, 81 into at least a portion of the top end
flaps 49, 51. Further, the
handle strap 103 could be attached to the top panel by other attachment
mechanisms (e.g., frictional
force or mechanical attachment means including rivets, thread, buttons,
staples, and any other suitable
mechanical fastening means) without departing from the disclosure.
[0020] In one embodiment, the blank 3 can comprise a substantially rigid
material such as
paperboard that provides stiffness and a smooth exterior print surface for the
carton 5. Alternatively,
the blank can comprise other materials such as E-flute corrugated fiberboard,
other corrugated
materials, or any other suitable material.
[0021] In one embodiment, the handle strap 103 can comprise any suitable
flexible material such as
woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, woven metallic fabric, plastic, rubber,
synthetic rubber, polymers such
as polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymers, rope, flexible bag
materials, paper, or any other
suitable material.
[0022] In alternative embodiments, the carton 5 could include multiple
handle straps 103 extending
across the handle opening 101. Further, the handle straps 103 could be any
suitable width and length
without departing from the disclosure.
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[0023] As shown in Fig. 3, an alternative carton 5' is configured for
containing containers in the
form of beverage bottles and includes an alternative handle 11' having a
handle strap 103' of an
alternative material as the carton 5. Accordingly, similar or identical
features of the embodiments are
provided with like reference numbers. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the carton 5'
may include a texture T in
one or more panels (e.g., first side panel, second side panel, top panel or
any other panel).
[0024] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the blank 3 can be
erected into the carton 5
by first attaching the handle strap 103 to the top panel 23 by applying
adhesive to the attachment zones
105, 107 and securing the handle strap to the top panel. The carton 5 can be
formed by folding the
blank 3 along fold lines 27, 31, 35, 39 and overlapping the outer edge margin
of the second bottom
panel 37 and the outer edge margin of the first bottom panel 33. Glue or other
adhesive can be used to
secure the first and second bottom panels 33, 37. The first end 68 of the
carton 5 can be closed by
respectively overlapping and adhering the end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, and
the second end 69 of the
carton can be closed by respectively overlapping and adhering the end flaps
51, 55, 59, 63, 67. The
base portions 50, 52 of the top end flaps 49, 51 and the base portions 72 of
the bottom end flaps 61, 63,
65, 67 form respective angled or curved corners of the carton 5. Containers C
could be loaded into the
carton 5 before or after closing either of the first end 68 and the second end
69 of the carton. It should
be understood that either the first end 68 or the second end 69 can be
assembled first, leaving the other
end open so that the contents of the carton 5 may be introduced into the
container. The open end can
then be closed after the contents are loaded into the carton 5.
[0025] As shown in Figs. 2, the handle 11 includes the handle strap 103
that extends across the
handle opening 101 in the top panel 23. The carton 5 can be carried by
grasping the portion of the
handle strap 103 in the handle opening 101 and lifting the carton by the
handle strap. The carton 5
could have other features for strengthening the handle without departing from
the disclosure.
Alternative assembling, loading, and closing steps may be used without
departing from the scope of this
disclosure.
[0026] In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the carton 5 is oriented so that the
top panel 23 and the bottom
panels 33, 37 are adjacent the sides of the containers C that are beverage
cans and the side panels 25,
29 are adjacent respective ends of the cylindrical beverage containers. The
carton 5 can be otherwise
configured so that the top panel 23 with the handle 11 is adjacent the top or
bottom ends of the
containers C. For example, the carton 5' of Fig. 3 includes the top panel 23
being adjacent the tops of
containers C that typically would be beverage bottles. The handle 11 can be
located in any of the top
panel 23, side panels 25, 29, or bottom panels 33, 37 without departing from
the present disclosure.
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[0027] Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure
can be combined with,
replaced by, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments
of the disclosure
without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, it is noted that
the handle features,
dispenser features, and/or other features of the various embodiments can be
incorporated into a carton
having any carton style or panel configuration. The carton styles and panel
configurations described
above are included by way of example.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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 there along. 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.
[0030] 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
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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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and
describes various embodiments.
As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing
from the 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. Furthermore, the
scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations,
alterations, etc., of the
above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims.
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.
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