Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of each of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No.
62/779,689, filed on December 14, 2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No.
62/783,752, filed on December 21, 2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No.
62/796,830, filed on January 25, 2019, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/797,585,
filed on January 28, 2019, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/810,015, filed on
February 25, 2019, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/814,412, filed
on March 6,
2019, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/817,120, filed on March 12,
2019, and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/841,449, filed on May 1, 2019.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] The disclosures of each of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/779,689, filed
on December 14, 2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/783,752,
filed on
December 21, 2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/796,830, filed
on January 25,
2019, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/797,585, filed on January 28,
2019, U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/810,015, filed on February 25, 2019,
U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/814,412, filed on March 6, 2019, U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application No. 62/817,120, filed on March 12, 2019, and U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application No. 62/841,449, filed on May 1, 2019, are hereby incorporated by
reference for
all purposes as if presented herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to cartons or carriers for
holding, displaying,
and/or transporting containers.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] According to one aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a
carrier for holding a
plurality of containers that comprises a plurality of panels comprising at
least one central
panel and at least one attachment panel. The at least one central panel is for
positioning
between and attachment to adjacent containers of the plurality of containers.
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[0005] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a carrier for holding a
plurality of
containers comprises a plurality of panels comprising at least one central
panel and at least
one attachment panel configured to receive a portion of one or more containers
of the
plurality of containers. The at least one central panel comprises a plurality
of openings and is
for being positioned between and attached to adjacent containers of the
plurality of
containers.
[0006] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a blank for forming a
carrier for
holding a plurality of containers comprises a plurality of panels comprising
at least one
central panel and at least one attachment panel configured to receive a
portion of one or more
containers of the plurality of containers. The at least one central panel
comprises a plurality
of openings and is for being positioned between and attached to adjacent
containers of the
plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank.
[0007] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of forming a
carrier for
holding a plurality of containers comprises obtaining a blank comprising a
plurality of panels
comprising at least one central panel and at least one attachment panel
configured to receive a
portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers. The at least
one central panel
comprises a plurality of openings. The method further comprises folding the
plurality of
panels such that the at least one central panel is positioned between adjacent
containers of the
plurality of containers. The method further comprises attaching at least one
container of the
plurality of panels to the at least one central panel.
[0008] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a package comprises a
plurality of
containers and a carrier for holding the plurality of containers. The carrier
comprises a
plurality of panels comprising at least one central panel and at least one
attachment panel
receiving a portion of one or more containers of the plurality of containers.
The at least one
central panel comprises a plurality of openings and is positioned between and
attached to
adjacent containers of the plurality of containers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] 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. It is
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within the scope of the present disclosure that the above-discussed aspects be
provided both
individually and in various combinations.
[0010] 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.
[0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view of an outer surface of a blank for forming a
carrier according to a
first exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0012] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a partially folded configuration of
a carrier formed
from the blank of Fig. 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0013] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another partially folded
configuration of a carrier
formed from the blank of Fig. 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0014] Fig. 4 is a front view of a carrier formed from the blank of Fig. 1
according to the first
exemplary embodiment and having a container removed therefrom.
[0015] Fig. 5 is a rear view of the carrier of Fig. 4 and having a
container removed therefrom.
[0016] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a package and carrier formed from
the blank of Fig. 1
according to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0017] Fig. 7 is another perspective view of the package and carrier of
Fig. 6 and showing a
container being removed therefrom.
[0018] Fig. 8 is a plan view of an outer surface of a blank for forming a
carrier according to a
second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0019] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a package and carrier formed from
the blank of Fig. 8
according to the second exemplary embodiment.
[0020] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference
numbers throughout
the drawings.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages,
constructs, sleeves,
cartons, or the like, 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,
glass; plastics such as
PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum
and/or other metals; or any combination thereof
[0022] 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 beverage
containers (e.g.,
aluminum cans) at least partially disposed within the carrier embodiments. In
this
specification, the terms "lower," "bottom," "upper," "top," "front," and
"back" indicate
orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers.
[0023] As described herein, carriers may be formed by multiple overlapping
panels, end
flaps, and/or other portions of blanks. Such panels, end flaps, and/or other
portions of the
blank can be designated in relative terms to one another, e.g., "first",
"second", "third", etc.,
in sequential or non-sequential reference, without departing from the
disclosure.
[0024] Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an exterior side 101 of a blank 103 used
to form a carrier
105 (Fig. 6) in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the
disclosure. As shown in
Fig. 5, the carrier 105 is sized to contain or support four containers, with
two containers CA1,
CA2 being attached to a front portion 106 of the carrier 105 and two
containers CB1, CB2
being attached to a back portion 108 of the carrier 105. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2, can be beverage cans, or could be any other
suitable type
and size of container without departing from the disclosure. The carrier 105
can be sized and
shaped to hold more or less than four containers. In one embodiment, the front
portion 106
and the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 each have two containers, and in
other
embodiments, the front portion 106 and the back portion 108 of the carrier 105
can carry
more or less than two containers without departing from the disclosure. The
carrier 105 can
be provided together with one or more containers as a package 110 (Fig. 6).
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[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, the blank 103 has a longitudinal axis Li and a
lateral axis L2.
The blank 103 has a front portion 107 for forming the front portion 106 of the
carrier 105,
and a back portion 109 for forming the back portion 108 of the carrier 105.
The front portion
107 and the back portion 109 of the blank 103 are foldably connected at a
lateral fold line 112
that forms a lateral centerline CL of the blank 103, as shown. As discussed
further below, the
blank 103 is at least partially formed into the carrier 105 by folding the
blank 103 at the fold
line 112 along the centerline CL so that the front portion 107 and the back
portion 109 of the
blank 103 are overlapped in at least partial face-to-face contact.
[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion 107 of the blank
103 comprises a front
central panel 125a having a first front row RF1 of laterally spaced adhesive
or glue openings
127a, and a second front row RF2 of the laterally spaced adhesive or glue
openings 127a.
The top edges of the respective glue openings 127a of the first row RF1 are
spaced a
longitudinal distance D1 apart from the fold line 112 that is less than a
longitudinal distance
D2 that the top edges of the respective glue openings 127a of the second row
RF2 are spaced
apart from the fold line 112. As shown, the top edges of the glue openings
127a of the
second row RF2 can interrupt the fold line 133a.
[0027] A front container retention panel or front attachment panel 131a is
foldably connected
to the front central panel 125a at a lateral fold line 133a, and includes a
container retention
portion 135a that is at least partially defined between a pair of
longitudinally-spaced lateral
fold lines 137a, 139a that are each interrupted by a respective pair of
longitudinally-spaced
cuts 141a that can each include one or more curved and/or angled portions. As
shown, the
longitudinally-spaced cuts 141a define container retention tabs 148a that
extend outwardly
from the container retention portion 135a. As also shown, respective oblique
cuts 143a, 145a
extend outwardly from each respective cut 141a to define a plurality of
reconfigurable edges
of the front attachment panel 131a that face the respective container
retention tabs 148a.
[0028] As shown, an interior marginal portion 136a of the attachment panel
131a is defined
between the fold lines 137a, 133a, and an exterior marginal portion 138a of
the attachment
panel 131a is defined between the fold line 139a and a free edge of the
attachment panel
131a.
[0029] The blank 103 can include handle features that include at least a
handle opening 130a
that interrupts the fold line 133a and extends from a portion of the front
central panel 125a
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into a portion of the front attachment panel 131a. As shown, the handle
opening 130a can
include a longitudinal section 132a extending parallel to the longitudinal
axis Li and a pair of
lateral sections 134a that intersect and diverge orthogonally away from the
longitudinal
section 132a in substantial parallel relation with the lateral axis L2. In
this regard, the
sections 132a, 134a of the handle opening 130a are in communication with one
another. As
described further herein, the sections 132a, 134a of the handle opening 130a
provide multiple
engagement surfaces at which a consumer can grasp the carrier 105, in
different orientations.
The carrier 105 can have a different arrangement of handle features, or can be
devoid of
handle features, without departing from the disclosure.
[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the back portion 109 of the blank 103
includes a back
central panel 125b and a back container retention panel or back attachment
panel 131b having
associated features that are generally a mirror-image of the corresponding
panels and flaps of
the front portion 107 of the blank 103. Corresponding components (e.g.,
panels, flaps, fold
lines, cuts, etc.) have been designated by corresponding reference numbers
that differ by the
"a" or "b" suffix, with the "a" components corresponding to the front portion
107 of the
blank 103 and the "b" components corresponding to the back portion 109 of the
blank 103.
[0031] As shown, a pair of generally U-shaped cuts 157 interrupt the fold
line 112 and extend
from the centerline CL to define a pair of tabs 159 that protrude from the
front central panel
125a. As described further herein, a lateral portion of the respective cuts
157 defines the top
edge of respective glue openings 127b of a first back lateral row RB1 of
laterally spaced glue
openings 127b. As shown, the top edges of the respective glue openings 127b of
the first
lateral row RB1 of glue openings 127b are spaced a longitudinal distance D3
apart from the
fold line 112 that is less than a longitudinal distance D4 that the top edges
of respective glue
openings 127b of a second back lateral row RB2 of glue openings 127b are
spaced apart from
the fold line 112.
[0032] In this regard, the blank 103 is provided with front rows R171 and
RF2 of laterally-
spaced front glue openings 127a that are spaced respective longitudinal
distances D1, D2
from the centerline CL, and back rows RB1 and RB2 of laterally-spaced back
glue openings
127b that are spaced respective longitudinal distances D3, D4 from the
centerline CL. The
glue openings 127a, 127b have a longitudinally staggered arrangement such that
D2 > D4>
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D1 > D3. Upon formation of the carrier 105 from the blank 103, the
longitudinal centerline
CL/fold line 112 can form a bottom edge of the central panels 125a, 125b.
[0033] As described herein, the arrangement of the glue openings 127a, 127b
is such that,
upon erection of the carrier 105, the glue openings 127a, 127b provide access
to a respective
plurality of surfaces of the respective central panels 125b, 125a upon which
the respective
containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 can be attached to enhance retention and support
of the
containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 by the carrier 105.
[0034] Any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features could
be otherwise shaped,
arranged, and/or omitted from the blank 103 without departing from the
disclosure. The
blank 103 could be sized and/or shaped to accommodate more or less than four
containers
without departing from this disclosure.
[0035] As shown in Fig. 2, an interior surface or underside of the blank
103 can be placed
atop the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 such that the container retention
portion 135a of
the front attachment panel 131a overlies the containers CA1, CA2 and such that
the container
retention portion 135b of the back attachment panel 131b overlies the
containers CB1, CB2.
Further downward positioning of the attachment panels 131a, 131b over the
plurality of
containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 can activate the respective container retention
portions
135a, 135b to engage respective containers. For example, as the front
attachment panel 131a
is lowered or urged downwardly onto the containers CA1, CA2, the container
retention
portion 135a can at least partially separate from the remainder of the front
attachment panel
131a at the cuts 141a. In such an arrangement, upper or top portions T of the
respective
containers CA1, CA2 can extend at least partially through respective openings
formed by the
respective cuts 141a such that the container retention tabs 148a can engage,
for example, a
recessed portion of a rim or other top structure of the respective container
CA1, CA2, and
such that a plurality of reconfigurable edges of the exterior marginal portion
138a can
engage, for example, a rolled rim edge or other top structure of the
respective container CA1,
CA2.
[0036] Such reconfiguration of the corresponding portions of the back
attachment panel 131b
can occur as the back attachment panel 131b is lowed or urged downwardly onto
the
containers CB1, CB2. During the above-described engagement of the respective
container
retention portions 135a, 135b with the respective containers, the marginal
portions 136a,
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138a of the attachment panel 131a can fold at least partially downwardly at
the respective
fold lines 137a, 139a in such a configuration, and, similarly, the marginal
portions 136b,
138b of the attachment panel 131b can fold at least partially downwardly at
the respective
fold lines 137b, 139b.
[0037] As also shown in Fig. 2, the front central panel 125a and the back
central panel 125b
can be folded at the fold line 112 in the direction of the arrows Al, A2 such
that the front
central panel 125a and the back central panel 125b are brought into at least
partial face-to-
face contact in the direction of the respective arrows A3, A4 (Fig. 3) to be
positioned between
respective adjacent containers and such that the respective glue openings
127a, 127b are
positioned so as to be laterally aligned but longitudinally offset due to the
different relative
spacing of the respective rows RF1, RF2 of front glue openings 127a and the
respective rows
RB1, RB2 of back glue openings 127b away from the fold line 112 as described
above.
[0038] In this regard, the central panels 125a, 125b are arranged such that
a portion of the
front central panel 125a overlaps each of the glue openings 127b and a portion
of the back
central panel 125b overlaps each of the glue openings 127a to provide
communication
between the central panels 125a, 125b and respective surfaces upon which the
respective
containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 can be adhered or otherwise attached, as
described further
herein. Such rearrangement of the central panels 125a, 125b can also cause the
respective
central panels 125a, 125b to be folded downwardly relative to the respective
attachment
panels 131a, 131b at the respective fold lines 133a, 133b.
[0039] Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, in which the respective containers CA2,
CB1 are removed
for clarity of illustration, an adhesive glue G can be provided to adhere the
containers CA1,
CA2 to respective portions of the central panel 125b exposed through the
respective glue
openings 127a, and the glue G can be provided to adhere the containers CB1,
CB2 to
respective portions of the central panel 125a exposed through the respective
glue openings
127b. The arrangement of multiple rows of respective glue openings 127a, 127b
provides
multiple points of attachment of each respective container to the respective
opposite central
panel 125a, 125b such that each container is provided with a robust attachment
to a respective
central panel 125a, 125b. The attachment of the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2
to the
respective central panel 125a, 125b can provide retention and support of the
respective
containers, e.g., such that the containers do not detach from the carrier 105
under their own
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weight, in addition to or alternative to the container retention and support
provided by the
respective container retention portions 135a, 135b. For example, in one
embodiment, one or
more of the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 can be attached to a respective
central panel
125a, 125b with glue G, without additional retention and support provided by a
container
retention portion as described above.
[0040] The glue G described herein can be, for example, a hot melt
adhesive, a high tack
glue, an epoxy, a polymeric cement, etc., or combinations thereof. The glue G
can have a
different arrangement without departing from the disclosure. For example, in
one
embodiment, the glue G can be applied to one or more portions of the interior
surface of the
blank 103/carrier 105.
[0041] Such enhanced attachment of the respective containers to the
respective central panels
125a, 125b with the glue G can also provide enhanced integrity to the carrier
105, e.g., by
providing opposing adhesive forces on the respective central panels 125a, 125b
such that the
central panels 125a, 125b are compressed therebetween. For example, in one
embodiment, as
the carrier 105 is lifted, the containers CA1, CA2 can at least partially pull
the portions of the
back central panel 125b to which they are attached through the respective glue
openings 127a
toward the front central panel 125a under the at least partial weight of the
containers CA1,
CA2. Respective portions of the front central panel 125a can be pulled toward
the back
central panel 125b through the respective glue openings 127b by the containers
CB1, CB2 in
a similar manner.
[0042] Referring additionally to Figs. 6 and 7, a respective container CA1,
CA2, CB1, CB2
can be removed from the carrier 105 by disengaging the container from a
respective
attachment panel 131a, 13 lb, for example, by withdrawing the top portion T of
a respective
container through an opening formed by a respective cut 141a, 141b along the
respective
attachment panel 131a, 131b, and peeling the respective container away from
the respective
central panel 125a, 125b. Peeling or pulling the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2
away from
a respective central panel 125a, 125b can involve pulling the respective
container with a force
sufficient to overcome the adhesive bond of the respective container and the
respective
central panel 125a, 125b provided by the glue G. In one embodiment, the glue G
can be
selected so as to remain on a respective central panel 125a, 125b, e.g., such
that substantially
little or no glue G remains on the container as it is removed. One or more of
the containers
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CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2, in one embodiment, can be reattached to a respective
central panel
125a, 125b following therefrom by pressing the container against a respec\tive
region of glue
G.
[0043] It will be understood that a different number of rows or
arrangements of glue
openings can be provided without departing from the disclosure, and that the
central panels
can be sized and configured to accommodate such arrangements. In one
embodiment, the
central panels 125a, 125b can be devoid of glue openings such that the
respective containers
CA1, CA2 and CB1, CB2 are adhered only to the respective central panel 125a,
125b. In
another embodiment, glue G can be provided both on portions of the respective
central panels
125a, 125b exposed through the respective glue openings 127b, 127a as well as
portions of
the respective central panels 125a, 125b adjacent the respective glue openings
127a, 127b
such that each container CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 can be adhered to portions of both
central
panels 125a, 125b.
[0044] Still referring to Figs. 6, the carrier 105 can be grasped by a
consumer by inserting
one or more of his or her fingers in either or both handle openings 130a, 130b
and engaging,
for example, a portion of an underside of a respective attachment panel 131a,
131b and/or an
edge of the respective handle openings 130a, 130b. The divergent nature of the
respective
longitudinal sections 132a, 132b and the respective lateral sections 134a,
134b of the
respective handle openings 130a, 130b allows a consumer multiple edges and
surfaces by
which to engage and lift the carrier 105 such that the consumer can engage the
carrier from
multiple orientations, e.g., a lateral orientation or a longitudinal
orientation, or orientations
therebetween.
[0045] The carrier 105/package 110 described above has a compact structure
that can, for
example, provide materials savings and waste reduction. Additionally, the
arrangement of
the glue G among the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 as well as the central
panels 125a,
125b provides multiple points of attachment that results in a robust structure
for holding and
carrying the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2. Further, the exposure of one or
more portions
of the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 on exterior portions of the carrier
105/package 110
provides a consumer with a clear view of labeling or surface graphics
associated with the
containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2, as well as providing convenient access to
remove one or
more of the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2 from the carrier 105/package 110.
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[0046] Referring additionally to Figs. 8 and 9, a blank 203 for forming a
carrier 205
according to a second exemplary embodiment of the disclosure is illustrated.
The blank 203
and the carrier 205 can have one or more features that are similar to those of
the blank 103
and the carrier 105 of the first exemplary embodiment, and like or similar
reference numbers
refer to like or similar features.
[0047] As shown, the attachment panels 131a, 131b of the blank 203 are each
provided with
a respective three laterally spaced cuts 141a, 141b such that the carrier 205
is sized and
configured to support and retain six containers, with three containers CA1,
CA2, CA3 in a
front portion 206 of the carrier 205 and three containers CB1, CB2, CB3 in a
back portion
208 of the carrier 205.
[0048] The blank 203 includes a pair of handle openings 230a (broadly,
respective "first
handle opening" and "second handle opening") that extend from a portion of the
front
attachment panel 131a and into the front central panel 125a, and a pair of
handle openings
230b that extend from a portion of the back attachment panel 131b and into the
back central
panel 125b. As shown, the respective handle openings 230a, 230b have the
respective
longitudinal section 132a, 132b and the respective lateral sections 134a,
134b. As also
shown, the central panels 125a, 125b each include a single lateral row of
respective glue
openings 127a, 127b, though the central panels 125a, 125b of the blank 203 can
be provided
with a different number or arrangement of glue openings and rows thereof
without departing
from the disclosure.
[0049] The blank 203 additionally includes a bevel or front side panel 255a
that is foldably
connected to the front attachment panel 131a at a lateral fold line 257a, and
a top panel 259
that is foldably connected to the front side panel 255a at a lateral fold line
261a. The top
panel 259, as shown, includes a pair of handle features (broadly, "first
handle feature" and
"second handle feature", respectively) that each include a pair of opposed
curved cuts 263,
265 and a longitudinal cut 267 extending from the curved cut 263 to the curved
cut 265 to
define a pair of handle flaps 269, 271 that are foldably connected to the top
panel 259 at
respective lateral fold lines 273, 275. A pair of lateral lines of weakening
268 extend along a
portion of each flap 269, 271 so as to provide an at least partially
reconfigurable arrangement,
as described further herein. Handle features of the carrier 205 include the
handle features in
the top panel 259, and can also include the handle openings 230a, 230b. The
carrier 205 can
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have a different arrangement of handle features, or can be devoid of handle
features, without
departing from the disclosure.
[0050] The back portion 209 of the blank 203 additionally includes a back
side panel 255b
foldably connected to the back attachment panel 131b at a lateral fold line
257a, and an
attachment flap 277 foldably connected to the back side panel 255b at a
lateral fold line 261b.
[0051] The carrier 205 and a package 210 that includes the carrier 205 and
the containers
CA1, CA2, CA3, CB1, CB2, CB3 can be formed in a similar manner as that
described above
with respect to the carrier 105/package 110, and, additionally, the front side
panel 255a can
be folded upwardly at the fold line 257a, for example, to be at an oblique
arrangement
relative to the containers CA1, CA2, CB1, CB2, and the top panel 259 can be
folded at the
fold line 261a in the into at least partial face-to-face contact with at least
a portion of the
attachment panels 231a, 231b, as shown in Fig. 9. Similarly, the back side
panel 255b can be
folded upwardly at the fold line 257b into an oblique arrangement with the
containers CA1,
CA2, CB1, CB2, and the attachment flap 277 can be folded at the fold line 261b
into at least
partial face-to-face contact with the top panel 259 and/or the attachment
panel 231b, as
shown in Fig. 9. Such an arrangement can be maintained with an adhesive such
as glue.
[0052] Still referring to Fig. 9, the respective handle flaps 269, 271 can
be at least partially
separated from the top panel 259 at the respective cuts 263, 265, and from
each other at the
respective cuts 267, and folded downwardly at the respective fold lines 273,
275 into an
interior portion of the carrier 205/package 210. The handle openings 230a,
230b provide
clearance for the handle flaps 269, 271 to extend downwardly in such an
arrangement and the
lateral fold lines 268 of each respective handle flap 269, 271 can provide the
respective
handle flap 269, 271 with a reconfigurable arrangement so as to, for example,
contour or
angle against one or more of the respective containers CA1, CA2, CA3, CB1,
CB2, CB3,
e.g., such that at least a central portion of the respective handle flaps 269,
271 defined
between the respective fold lines 268 can be positioned between adjacent
containers. Further,
the marginal portions of the respective handle flaps 269, 271 defined by the
respective fold
lines 268 can at least partially wrap around or surround a consumer's finger,
for example, to
minimize or prevent contact of the consumer's finger with edges or corners of
the carrier
205/package 210 and/or the respective containers. In addition, and as
described above, the
divergent nature of the respective longitudinal sections 132a, 132b and the
respective lateral
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sections 134a, 134b of the respective handle openings 230a, 230b allows a
consumer multiple
edges and surfaces by which to engage and lift the carrier 205 such that the
consumer can
engage the carrier from multiple orientations, e.g., a lateral orientation or
a longitudinal
orientation, or orientations therebetween.
[0053] It will be understood that the blanks and carriers described herein
can be provided in
different configurations without departing from the disclosure.
[0054] 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
carrier 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 blanks may then be coated
with a varnish
to protect information printed on the blanks. The blanks may also be coated
with, for
example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The
blanks can also
be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected
panels or panel
sections.
[0055] 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.
[0056] 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.
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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.
[0057] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels
adhered
together by glue during erection of the carrier embodiments. The term "glue"
is intended to
encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carrier panels in
place.
[0058] 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.
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