EP1893498B1 - Carton with reinforced end handles - Google Patents
Carton with reinforced end handles Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1893498B1 EP1893498B1 EP06773104A EP06773104A EP1893498B1 EP 1893498 B1 EP1893498 B1 EP 1893498B1 EP 06773104 A EP06773104 A EP 06773104A EP 06773104 A EP06773104 A EP 06773104A EP 1893498 B1 EP1893498 B1 EP 1893498B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- panel
- side end
- carton
- edge
- reinforcing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
- B65D5/44—Integral, inserted or attached portions forming internal or external fittings
- B65D5/441—Reinforcements
- B65D5/443—Integral reinforcements, e.g. folds, flaps
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/02—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body
- B65D5/0227—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper by folding or erecting a single blank to form a tubular body with or without subsequent folding operations, or the addition of separate elements, to close the ends of the body with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
- B65D5/42—Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
- B65D5/44—Integral, inserted or attached portions forming internal or external fittings
- B65D5/46—Handles
- B65D5/46072—Handles integral with the container
- B65D5/4608—Handgrip holes
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to a carton having a reinforced integrated hand opening in an end wall, and particularly, to a carton formed from a single blank.
- Carton manufacturers often face the challenge of providing a carton having ergonomic handle openings that are sufficiently strong to withstand the stress generated by the weight of articles enclosed. This is particularly so when the handle is integral to the end wall of the carton and when the burst strength of the material comprising the end wall is insufficient to avoid failure of the handle and the end wall itself.
- One approach to resolving this quandary is to construct the carton from a stronger material such as corrugated board or from a sheet of material of a relatively higher calliper.
- a handle aperture in a carton end wall may be reinforced by outlining its edges with an additional layer of sheet material.
- US 2,122,654 discloses a shipping container comprising bottom, side and end walls with integral flaps to form end walls and reinforcing flaps hingedly connected thereto.
- a carton comprising a tubular structure including a top panel, a bottom panel and a first and second opposed side panels and at least one end closure that comprises a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening, a side end flap hingedly connected to each of the first and second side panels, each side end flap comprising a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening and a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge the reinforcing panel being folded to place its reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the cutout, wherein the top end flap is folded to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the cutouts in the first and second side end flaps characterised in that each reinforcing panel is hinged along an upper edge of a respective one of the side end flaps.
- each side end flap comprises an upper edge a portion of which is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall.
- said at least one end closure further comprises a bottom end flap hingedly connected to an edge of the bottom panel, the bottom end flap at least partially overlying the first and second side end flaps of said at least one end closure.
- the top end flap of said at least one end closure at least partially overlaps the bottom end flap.
- the side end flaps of said at least one end closure have end edges along which said cutouts are defined respectively, said end edges of said side end flaps being disposed adjacent to each other such that said side end flaps are in the same plane without overlapping each other.
- the cutouts of said side end flaps of said at least one end closure are aligned to form an aperture that is disposed in registry with said handle opening.
- said handle opening is defined by an endless edge.
- said end edges of said side end flaps are folded end edges along which overlay panels are hingedly connected respectively.
- said end edges of said side end flaps are free end edges along which no carton parts are hingedly connected.
- a blank for forming a carton having a tubular structure said blank including a top panel, a bottom panel and first and second opposed side panels and at least one end closure comprising top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening, a first side end flap hingedly connected to the first side panel and a second side end flap hingedly connected to the second side panel, each side end flap comprising a first cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimension of at least part of the handle opening: and a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge characterised in that the reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to an upper edge of one pf the side end flaps each of the side end flaps being adjacent said hinged connections to the first side panel and second side panel respectively, the reinforcing panel being foldable about a hinged connection to place the reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the first cutout of the one of the side end flaps; wherein the top end flap is
- At least one end closure further comprises a bottom end flap hingedly connected to an end edge of the bottom panel such that in a set up condition, the bottom end flap at least partially overlying the first and second side end flaps of said at least one end closure.
- the top end flap of said at least one end closure is structured and arranged to at least partially overlap the bottom end flap in a set up condition.
- the side end flaps of said at least one end closure have end edges along which said first and second cutouts are defined respectively, said end edges of said side end flaps being disposed adjacent to each other such that said side end flaps lie in the same plane without overlapping each other in a set up condition.
- the cutouts of said side end flaps of said at least one end closure are aligned to form an aperture that is disposed in registry with said hand opening in a set up condition.
- said handle opening is defined by an endless edge.
- the top panel is hingedly connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel and said hinged connection is substantially parallel to a hinged connection connecting the reinforcing panel to the at least one of the side end flaps.
- said end edge of said side end flaps are free end edges along which no carton parts are hingedly connected.
- said edge along which said overlay panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the lower edge with respect to said first cutout; and said edge along which said reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the upper edge with respect to said first cutout.
- the overlay panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap along the end edge of said side end flap; and said edge along which said reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the upper edge with respect to said first cutout.
- the various embodiments of the exemplary carton include a top panel, a first side panel hingedly connected to the top panel, a bottom panel hingedly connected to the first side panel, a second side panel hingedly connected to the bottom panel, and at least one end closure.
- the end closure is formed from a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening disposed therethrough.
- the end closure also includes side end flaps hingedly connected to the first and second side panels respectively, each side end flap including a cutout disposed at an outer edge or as an endless edged aperture, the cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening.
- Each side end flap also includes a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge, the reinforcing panel being foldable to place its reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the respective cutout.
- the top end flap is foldable to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the cutouts in the first and second side end flaps.
- each side end flap includes a notched cutout disposed at an outer edge, the notched cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening.
- An overlay panel hingedly connected along a transverse edge of each side end flap includes a complementary notched cutout.
- the overlay panel is foldable along the transverse edge into a face contacting arrangement with the side end flap, such that the cutout in the overlay panel is in registry with the cutout in the side end flap.
- Each side end flap also includes a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge, the reinforcing panel being foldable to place its reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the cutouts in the respective side end flaps and overlay panels, thereby creating a notched cutout that is three plies thick along the hand-engaging portion.
- the side end flaps at an end of the erected carton are folded inwardly such that the outer edges abut one another and the respective three-ply notched cutouts align to approximate the shape of the handle opening.
- the top end flap is foldable to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps and overlay panels so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the three-ply notched cutouts in the first and second side end flaps, creating a handle section that is four plies thick along its hand engaging portion.
- each overlay panel is hingedly connected to the respective side end flap along the outer longitudinal edge of the side end flap and includes a cutout that is a mirror image of the cutout in the side end flap. Together, the cutouts in the overlay panel and the adjacent side end flap form an endless edged aperture that is bisected by the outer edge of the side end flap, which is defined by a fold line.
- FIG.1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to an exemplary embodiment not forming part of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank of FIG, 1 , with reinforcing panels folded over and secured to the side end flaps.
- FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 11!-111 In FIG. 2 , showing an exemplary reinforcing panel in face contacting arrangement with a side end flap.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partially erected carton formed from the blank of FIGS. 1 and 2 , prior to sealing one of its end closures.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 4 , in fully erected condition.
- FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a partially erected carton formed from the blank of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a plan view of the blank of FIG. 8 , with overlay panels and reinforcing panels folded over and secured to the side end flaps.
- FIG. 10 is an end view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 9 , showing an exemplary overlay panel and an exemplary reinforcing panel in face contacting arrangement with a side end flap.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a partially erected carton formed from the blank of FIG. 8 , prior to sealing one of its end closures.
- FIG.12 Is a plan view of a third alternative embodiment of the present Invention of a blank for forming a carton with reinforced end handles.
- the exemplary embodiments of the carton of the present invention are for enclosing, carrying and dispensing articles such as beverage cans or bottles, although the cartons of the present Invention may be utilized to package any suitable article.
- the exemplary cartons are formed from a foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, or the like.
- blank 100 is cut from a single sheet of the foldable sheet material, although it is contemplated that the blank 100 may include several separate panels that are secured together.
- the inside surface the blank 100 is shown.
- the blank 100 includes four major panels, namely, a top panel 102, a first side panel 104, a bottom panel 106, and a second side panel 108.
- the panels 102, 104, 106, 108 are hingedly connected to one another along the length of the blank. More specifically, a side edge of top panel 102 is hingedly connected along fold line 110 to a side edge of first side panel 104.
- a side edge of first side panel 104 is hingedly connected along fold line 112 to a side edge of bottom panel 106.
- a side edge of bottom panel 106 Is hingedly connected along fold line 114 to a side edge of second side panel 108.
- the other side edge of top panel 102 is hingedly connected along fold line 118 to an edge flap 116, although any means for securing the second side panel 108 to the top panel 102 together may be used.
- Each of the panels 102, 104, 106, 108 is also hingedly attached at each end edge thereof to end flaps for forming end closures at each end of the erected carton 200, as will be described in greater detail below.
- Top panel 102 is hingedly connected to top end flaps 120a, 120b at end edges defined by fold lines 122a, 122b.
- First side panel 104 is hingedly connected to first side end flaps 124a, 124b along end edges defined by fold lines 126a, 126b.
- Bottom panel 106 is hingedly connected to bottom end flaps 128a, 128b along end edges defined by fold lines 130a, 130b.
- Second side end panel 108 is hingedly connected to second side end flaps 132a,132b along end edges defined by fold lines 134a,134b.
- top end flaps 120a, 120b include handle openings 136a, 136b; first side end flaps 124a, 124b include handle openings 144a, 144b; and second side end flaps 132a, and 132b include handle openings 152a, 152b, respectively.
- Each of the handle openings 136a, 136b, 144a, 144b, 152a, 152b is an aperture defined by an endless edge ( 138a, 138b, 150a, 150b, 154a, 154b, respectively) that defines an ergonomic shape suitable for receiving the fingers of a user's hand so that the carton 200 can be lifted and carried easily.
- the shape chosen includes an upper arch that conforms to the singers of a hand. As depicted, the upper arch is defined by fold lines 142a, 142b, 148a, 148b, 158a, 158b.
- Each handle opening 136a, 136b, 144a, 144b, 152a, 152b is elongated so as to have an axis of elongation A, A', A".
- the axes of elongation A of the handle openings 136a, 136b in the top end flaps 120a, 120b are substantially parallel to the end edges of the top panel 102 as defined by fold lines 122a, 122b, although it is contemplated that axes A may be disposed at an angle with respect to fold lines 122a, 122b.
- the axes of elongation A' of the handle openings 144a, 144b in the first side end flaps 124a, 124b are substantially perpendicular to the axes of elongation A, and thus in the exemplary embodiment, are also perpendicular to the end edges of the first side panel 104 as defined by fold lines 126a,126b.
- the axes of elongation A" of the handle openings 152a, 152b in the second side end flaps 132a, 132b are also substantially perpendicular to the axes of elongation A, and thus in the exemplary embodiment, are similarly perpendicular to the end edges of the second side panel 108 as defined by fold lines 134a, 134b.
- Each set of handle openings 136, 144, 152 also has a lateral axis B, B', B" that is perpendicular to axis of elongation A, A', A", the handle openings being symmetrical about the lateral axes.
- handle openings 136a, 144a, 152a have complementary shapes, dimensions, and positions so as to be placed in registry with one another when the end flaps 120a, 124a, 132a are folded to overlie, overlap, or abut one another to form a first end closure 210 (shown in FIG. 3 ).
- handle openings 136b, 144b, 152b are complementarily shaped, dimensioned, and positioned so as to be placed In registry with one another when end flaps 120b, 124b, 132b are folded to overlie, overlap, or abut one another to form a second end closure 212 (shown in FIG. 3 ).
- the dimensions and shapes of the end flaps 120a, 124a, 132a also correlate to be foldable to provide a composite end closure 210 with a reinforced end handle H.
- the width X of first side end flaps 124a, 124b and second side end flaps 132a, 132b, as defined by the distance from fold lines 126a, 126b, 134a, 134b to the outer edges of the respective end flap is no greater than the lesser of either the length Y of the end edges of top panel 102, as defined by fold lines 122a, 122b or the length Z of the end edges of the bottom panel 106, as defined by fold lines 130a, 130b.
- the end edges of the bottom panel 106 may be substantially equal in length to the end edges of the top panel 102, thereby creating a carton with a substantially rectangular tubular cross section.
- the end edges of top panel 102 may differ in length from the end edges of bottom panel 106, thereby creating an carton with a substantially trapezoidal cross section or a gabled tubular cross section (not shown) having shoulders, as is known in the art.
- the trapezoidal or gabled cross section with a relatively larger base is particularly useful to enclose tapered articles such as beer bottled.
- the exemplary carton 200 may be erected around an article or group of articles, or may be at least partially erected and then loaded and sealed.
- a packaging machine To facilitate an understanding of the configuration of the carton 200, one of potentially many contemplated techniques for erecting the carton 200 will now be described as a series of steps that may be performed substantially simultaneously or in any practical order, with some or all of the steps being performed either manually or automatically, such as by a packaging machine.
- the exemplary process of erecting the carton is performed in two stages.
- the first stage is performed typically as part of the process of manufacturing the carton 200.
- a blank is cut, folded and then secured into a flattened tubular condition so that it can be shipped to a packing facility as a sleeve.
- IPE In plant equipment
- edges 138a, 138b, 150a, 150b, 154a, 154b of handle openings 136a, 136b, 144a, 144b, 152a, 152b may be defined by weakened severance lines enabling the center sections to be punched out, or the 138a, 138b, 150a, 150b. 154a, 154b may be defined by cut lines with the center sections being removed and discarded before the carton 200 is erected.
- adhesive or other means for securing is applied to the inside surface of an portion 160a, 160b, 162a, 162b of side end flap 124a, 124b, 132a, 132b.
- the portions 160a, 160b, 162a, 162b will hereinafter be referred to as reinforcing panels 160a, 160b, 162a, 162b.
- Each reinforcing panel 160a, 160b, 162a, 162b is defined by the end edge of respective side end flap 124a, 124b, 132a, 132b, to which the reinforcing panel 160a, 160b, 162a, 162b is connected along the respective fold line 164a, 164b, 166a, 166, which bisects the respective handle opening 144a, 144b, 152a. 152b, coinciding with the lateral axes thereof.
- reinforcing panels may be separate pieces of sheet material that are applied as laminates to the side end flaps.
- reinforcing panel 160a is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of side end flap 124a; reinforcing panel 160b is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of side end flap 124b; reinforcing panel 162a is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of side end flap 132a; and reinforcing panel 162b Is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of side end flap 132b.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing reinforcing panel 162a and side end flap 132a, to aid in understanding the relationship between each of the reinforcing panels and the respective side end flap.
- the blank 100 is configured as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the handle openings 144a, 144b, 152a, 152b become doubly reinforced cutouts C.
- the doubling of the material around each cutout C is demonstrated by the aoss-sectional view of FIG. 3 , which is taken along III-III in FIG. 2 .
- the first phase of the process is completed by applying adhesive or other securing means to the outside surface of edge flap 116, folding edge flap 116 so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface of top panel 102, and folding the entire blank 100 along fold line 112 so that the-inside surface of top panel 102 is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface of second side panel 108 and the outside surface of edge flap 116 is secured to the inside surface of second side panel 108.
- the second stage of erecting the carton 200 may be performed at a bottling or packaging facility.
- the flattened blanks 100 are loaded into a packaging machine, which in known fashion, disposes top panel 102 opposite bottom panel 106 and disposes first side panel 104 opposite second side panel 108 so that the carton 200 is configured as a tubular sleeve having a substantially rectangular as shown in FIG. 4 , although trapezoidal or gabled cross sections are also contemplated.
- top panel 102 becomes top wall 202
- first side panel 104 becomes first side wall 204
- bottom panel 106 becomes bottom wall 206
- second side panel 108 becomes second side wall 208.
- first side panel 124a and second side panel 132a are folded toward the interior of the carton 200 until fold lines 164a and 166a abut or overlap slightly.
- the cutouts C corresponding to handle openings 144a and 152as come together to approximate the dimensions of handle opening 136a.
- handle opening 136a may be relatively larger or smaller to account for slight variations in alignment.
- Adhesive is applied to the inside surface of bottom end flap 128a, and bottom end flap 128a is folded toward the interior of the carton 200 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the lower portions of the outside surfaces of side end flaps 124a, 132a.
- top end flap 128a Adhesive is applied to the inside surface of top end flap 128a, and top end flap 128a is folded toward the interior of the carton 200 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the upper portions of the outside surfaces of side end flaps 124a, 132a.
- Top end flap 120a may overlap bottom end flap 132a somewhat (as shown in FIG. 5 ), or conversely, bottom end flap 132a may overlap top end flap 120a.
- each end closure 210, 212 includes a handle H, the edges of which are triply reinforced.
- a portion of the periphery of the handle H as defined by edge 138a is substantially aligned with and reinforced by the doubled over edge 150a of handle opening 144a, and the remainder of the periphery of the handle H is substantially aligned with and reinforced by the doubled over edge 154a of handle opening 152a, making the area at or near all of the edges of the handle three plies thick.
- Carton 700 is formed from blank 600 ( FIG. 6 ), and embodies a configuration that provides triple reinforcement of the handle H, while consuming even less sheet material.
- carton 700 differs from carton 200 principally by the substitution of cutouts 652a, 652b, 644a, 644b for handle openings in the side end flaps 632a, 632b, 624a, 624b, and by the alternative configuration of reinforcing panels 660a, 660b, 664a, 664b, which are partially detached along respective severance lines 663a, 663b, 666a, 666b, folded along respective fold lines 662a, 662b, 667a, 667b (which lie along the upper edges of the respective side end flap) and secured in a face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of respective side end panels 632a, 632b, 624a, 624b.
- each of the reinforcing panels 660a, 660b, 664a, 664b is thereby placed In reinforcing proximity to the weight-bearing portion of cutout 652a, 652b, 644a, 644b.
- the weight-bearing portion of cutout 652a, 652b, 644a, 644b is defined by at least part of fold line 659a, 658b, 648a, 648b, respectively.
- the reinforcing panels 660a, 660b 664a, 664b are also in reinforcing proximity to the weight-bearing portions of handle opening 636a, 636b, defined by at least part of respective fold lines 642a, 642b.
- bottom panel 206 is substantially identical to bottom panel 606
- top wall 202 is substantially identical to top wall 702.
- blank 800 is cut from a single sheet of the foldable sheet material, although it is contemplated that the blank 800 may include several separate panels that are secured together.
- the inside surface the blank 800 is shown.
- the blank 800 includes four major panels, namely, a bottom panel 802, a first side panel 804, a top panel 806, and a second side panel 808.
- the panels 802, 804, 806, 808 are hingedly connected to one another along the length of the blank. More specifically, a transverse side edge of bottom panel 802 is hingedly connected along fold line 810 to a side edge of first side panel 804.
- a transverse side edge of first side panel 804 is hingedly connected along fold line 812 to a side edge of top panel 806.
- a transverse side edge of top panel 806 is hingedly connected along fold line 814 to a side edge of second side panel 808.
- the other side edge of bottom panel 802 is hingedly connected to an edge flap 816 along fold line 818, although any means for securing the second side panel 808 to the bottom panel 802 may be used.
- Each of the panels 802, 804, 806, 808 is also hingedly attached at each end edge thereof to end flaps for forming end closures at each longitudinal end of the erected carton 1100, as will be described in greater detail below.
- Bottom panel 802 is hingedly connected to bottom end flaps 820a, 820b at end edges defined by fold lines 822a, 822b.
- First side panel 804 is hingedly connected to first side end flaps 824a, 824b along end edges defined by fold lines 826a, 826b.
- Top panel 806 is hingedly connected to bottom end flaps 828a,828b along end edges defined by fold lines 830a, 830b.
- Second side end panel 808 is hingedly connected to second side end flaps 832a, 832b along end edges defined by fold lines 834a, 834b.
- Each of the side end flaps 824a, 824b, 832a, 832b is hingedly connected at a transverse edge to an overlay panel and a reinforcing panel for forming the reinforced end handles, as will be described in greater detail below.
- First overlay panels 836a, 836b are hingedly connected to the lower edges of first side end flaps 824a, 824b along fold lines 838a, 838b, respectively.
- the first overlay panels 836a, 836b are formed at least in part from the first side end flaps 824a, 824b.
- the first overlay panels 836a, 836b are separated or separable from the first side end flaps 824a, 824b by severance lines 840a, 840b, respectively, and separated or separable from the bottom end flaps 820a, 820b by severance lines 842a, 842b, respectively.
- the blank 800 may include apertures 844a, 844b to facilitate folding the overlay panels 836a, 836b and reduce the amount of material used.
- second overlay panels 846a, 846b are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the second side end flaps 832a, 832b along fold lines 848a, 848b, respectively.
- the second overlay panels 846a, 846b are formed at least in part from the second side end flaps 832a, 832b.
- the second overlay panels 846a, 846b are separated or separable from the second side end flaps 832a, 832b by severance lines 850a, 850b, respectively.
- First reinforcing panels 852a, 852b are hingedly connected to the upper edges of first side end flaps 824a, 824b along fold lines 854a. 854b, respectively.
- the first reinforcing panels 852a, 852b are formed at least in part from the first side end flaps 824a, 824b respectively.
- the first reinforcing panels 852a, 852b are separated or separable from top end flaps 828a. 828b by severance lines 856a, 856b, respectively, and separated or separable from first side end flaps 824a, 824b by severance lines 858a, 858b, respectively.
- second reinforcing panels 860a, 860b are hingedly connected to the upper edges of second side end flaps 832a, 832b along fold lines 862a, 862b, respectively.
- the second reinforcing panels 860a, 860b are formed at least in part from the second side end flaps 832a, 832b.
- the second reinforcing panels 860a, 860b are separated or separable from top end flaps 828a, 828b by severance lines 864a, 864b, respectively, and separated or separable from second side end flaps 832a, 832b by severance lines 866a, 866b, respectively.
- the blank 800 may include apertures 868a, 868b to facilitate folding the reinforcing panels 852a, 852b and may include apertures 870a, 870b to facilitate folding the reinforcing panels 860a, 860b, respectively.
- overlay panels and reinforcing panels may be separate pieces of sheet material that are applied as laminates to the side end flaps.
- top end flaps 828a, 828b include handle openings 872a, 872b; first side end flaps 824a, 824b include notched cutouts 874a, 874b; first overlay panels 836a, 836b include notched cutouts 876a, 876b; second side end flaps 832a, 832b include notched cutouts 878a, 878b; and second overlay panels 846a, 846b include notched cutouts 880a, 880b, respectively.
- the handle opening 872a and notched cutouts, 874a, 876a, 878a. 880a have complementary shapes, dimensions, and positions so as to be placed in registry with one another when the overlay panels 836a, 846a and the end flaps 824a, 828a, 832a are folded to overlie, overlap, or abut one another to form a first end closure 1110 (not shown).
- the handle opening 872b and notched cutouts, 874b, 876b, 878b have complementary shapes, dimensions, and positions so as to be placed in registry with one another when the overlay panels 836a, 846a and the end flaps 824a, 828a, 832a are folded to overlie, overlap, or abut one another to form a first end closure 1110 (not shown).
- the handle opening 872b and notched cutouts, 874b, 876b, 878b have complementary shapes, dimensions, and positions so as to be placed in registry with one another when the overlay panels 836a, 846a and
- 880b are complementarily shaped, dimensioned, and positioned so as to be placed in registry with one another when the overlay panels 836b, 846b and the end flaps 824b, 828b, 832b are folded to overlie, overlap, or abut one another to form a second end closure 1112 (obstructed in FIG. 11 ).
- the exemplary carton 1100 may be erected around an article or group of articles, or may be at least partially erected and then loaded and sealed. To facilitate; an understanding of the configuration of the carton 1100, one of potentially many contemplated techniques for erecting the carton 1100 will now be described as a series of steps that may be performed substantially simultaneously or in any practical order, with some or all of the steps being performed either manually or automatically, such as by a packaging machine.
- the exemplary process of erecting the carton is performed In two stages.
- the first stage is performed typically as part of the process of manufacturing the carton 1100.
- a blank is cut, folded and then secured into a flattened tubular condition so that it can be shipped to a packing facility as a sleeve.
- IPE In plant equipment
- edges 873a, 873b, 875a, 875b, 877a, 877b, 879a, 879b, 881a, 881b of handle openings 872a, 872b and notched cutouts 874a, 874b, 876a, 876b, 878a, 878b, 880a, 880b may be defined by frangible lines or perforations enabling the center sections to be punched out, or may be defined by cut lines with the center sections being removed and discarded before the carton 1100 is erected.
- adhesive or other means for securing sheet material is applied to the inside surface of the overlay panels 836a, 836b, 846a, 846b and the reinforcing panels 852a, 852b, 860a, 860b.
- overlay panel 836a is folded about fold line 838a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of first side end flap 824a; overlay panel 836b is folded about 838b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of first side end flap 824b; overlay panel 846a is folded about 848a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of second side end flap 832a; and overlay panel 846b is folded about fold line 848b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of second side end flap 832b.
- the overlay panels 836a, 836b, 846a, 846b are secured to the underlying portions of the inside surfaces of side end flaps 824a, . 824b, 832a, 832b, respectively, and the notched cutouts 876a, 876b, 880a, 880b align with the notched cutouts 874a, 874b, 878a, 878b, respectively.
- first reinforcing panel 852a is folded about fold line 854a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface of first overlay panel 836a and the underlying portion of the inside surface of first side end flap 824a; first reinforcing panel 852b is folded about fold line 854b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface of first overlay panel 836b and the underlying portion of the inside surface of first side end flap 824b; second reinforcing panel 860a is folded about fold line 862a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface of second overlay panel 846a and the underlying portion the inside surface of the second side end flap 832a; second reinforcing panel 860b is folded about fold line 862b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface of second overlay panel 846b and the underlying portion of the inside surface of second side end flap 832
- the reinforcing panels 852a, 852b, 860a, 860b are secured to the underlying portions of the outside surfaces of overlay panels 836a, 836b, 846a, 846b and to the underlying portions of the inside surfaces of the inside surfaces of side end flaps 824a, 824b, 832a, 832b, respectively.
- FIG. 10 is an end view taken along X-X in FIG. 9 , which shows the end edge of first side end flap 824a, first overlay panel 836a, and first reinforcing panel 852a, to aid in understanding the relationship between each of the reinforcing panels, overlay panels, and the respective side end flaps.
- the first phase of the process is completed by applying adhesive or other securing means to the outside surface of edge flap 816, folding edge flap 816 so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface of bottom panel 802 ,and folding the entire blank 800 along fold line 812 so that the inside surface of top panel 802 is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface of second side panel 808 and the outside surface of edge flap 816 is secured to the inside surface of second side panel 808.
- the second stage of erecting the carton 1100 may be performed at a bottling or packaging facility.
- the flattened blanks 800 are loaded into a packaging machine, which in known fashion, disposes top panel 806 opposite bottom panel 802 and disposes first side panel 804 opposite second side panel 808 so that the carton 1100 is configured as a tubular sleeve having a substantially rectangular as shown in FIG.11 , although trapezoidal or gabled cross sections are also contemplated.
- top panel 806 becomes top wall 1106, first side panel 804 becomes first side wall 1104, bottom panel 802 becomes bottom wall 1102, and second side panel 808 becomes second side wall 1108.
- first side panel 824a and second side panel 832a are simultaneously or independently folded toward the interior of the carton 1100 until side end flaps 824a, 832a abut or overlap somewhat.
- the cutouts C come together to approximate the dimensions of handle opening 872a.
- handle opening 872a may be relatively larger or smaller to account for slight variations in alignment.
- Adhesive is applied to the inside surface of bottom end flap 820a, and bottom end flap 820a is folded toward the interior of the carton 1100 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the lower portions of the outside surfaces of side end flaps 824a, 832a.
- top end flap 828a Adhesive is applied to the inside surface of top end flap 828a, and top end flap 828a is folded toward the interior of the carton 1100 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the upper portions of the outside surfaces of side end flaps 824a, 832a.
- Top end flap 828a may overlap bottom end flap 820a somewhat, or conversely, bottom end flap 820a may overlap top end flap 828a.
- top end flap 828a may abut or be spaced apart from bottom end flap 820a with neither over lapping the other.
- each end closure 1110, 1112 includes a handle, the edges of which being triply reinforced.
- a portion of periphery of the handle as defined by handle opening 872a Is substantially aligned with and reinforced by the three-ply cutouts C to make the upper edge of the handle four plies thick.
- reinforcement Is most needed along the weight-bearing or hand-engaging portion of a handle opening in a carton.
- a carton (not shown) is formed from a blank 1200 (as shown in FIG. 12 ) and embodies an alternative configuration that provides triple reinforcement of the handle H.
- the blank 1200 differs from the blank 800 principally by the substitution of handle openings 1274a, 1274b, 1278a, 1278b that are disposed in an alternate configuration of the side end flaps 1224a, 1224b, 1232a, 1232b and overlay panels 1236a, 1236b, 1246a, 1246b.
- each overlay panel 1236a,1236b,1246a, 1246b is hingedly connected to a respective side end flap 1224a, 1224b, 1232a,1232b along a fold line 1238a, 1238b, 1248a, 1248b .
- Each handle opening 1274a, 1274b, 1278a, 12T8b is symmetrically bisected by an imaginary line coextensive with the fold line 1238a, 1238b, 1248a, 1248b such that when the overlay panels 1236a, 1236b, 1246a, 1246 are folded along the respective fold line 1238a,1238b, 1248a, 1248b to be in a face contacting relationship with the side end flaps 1224a, 1224b, 1232a, 1232b, notched cutouts (not shown) are formed.
- the reinforcing panels 1252a, 1252b, 1260a, 1260b may be secured beneath the overlay panels 1236a, 1236b, 1246a, 1246, but are preferably folded and secured after the overlay panels 1236a, 1236b, 1246a , 1246 have been secured to the side end flaps 1224a, 1224b, 1232a, 1232b.
- blank 1200 and the carton are otherwise substantially similar to the corresponding elements of blank 800 and carton 1100.
- the bottom panel 802 is substantially identical to bottom panel 1202.
- the blank 1200 is erected to form the carton by substantially the same process as described above where blank 80 0 is erected to form the carton 1100.
- top, base, bottom, end, side, inner”, “outer”, “supper”, “middle, “lower”, “front” and “rear” do not limit the respective walls of the carton to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these walls from one another.
- various embodiments demonstrate that the top, sides, and bottom panels may be hingedly connected to one another and secured into a tubular sleeve in any order that provides a top panel opposing a bottom panel and opposing side panels.
- hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a junction including a single hinge only, indeed, it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more potentially disparate means for hingedly connecting materials.
- the exemplary cartons preferably have handles at both ends, although it is contemplated to include only one handle disposed in one of the end closures.
- any suitable means for securing sheet material may be used, including magnets, non-permanent adhesives, or hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO® , which is a trademark registered to Velcro Industries B.V.
- VELCRO® which is a trademark registered to Velcro Industries B.V.
- handle openings of the invention are described as having removable centers, the centers may be only partially removable and may function as finger cushions after being partially detached from the edges of the handle openings.
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates generally to a carton having a reinforced integrated hand opening in an end wall, and particularly, to a carton formed from a single blank.
- Carton manufacturers often face the challenge of providing a carton having ergonomic handle openings that are sufficiently strong to withstand the stress generated by the weight of articles enclosed. This is particularly so when the handle is integral to the end wall of the carton and when the burst strength of the material comprising the end wall is insufficient to avoid failure of the handle and the end wall itself. One approach to resolving this quandary is to construct the carton from a stronger material such as corrugated board or from a sheet of material of a relatively higher calliper. As fully enclosed cartons typically have six walls (tope, sides, bottom, and ends) that are formed from a single sheet of material, and cost tends to increase according to the strength and thickness of material used to construct the carton walls, this approach is an expensive one because it effectively amounts to reinforcing all of the walls of the carton irrespective of the relative magnitude of the forces borne by each wall.
- According to another approach, additional material is applied to or around the handle as needed to it integrity as well as that of the end wall. For instance, a handle aperture in a carton end wall may be reinforced by outlining its edges with an additional layer of sheet material. However, it is often preferable to form a carton form a single sheet of material rather than to attach additional components to a carton or carton blank.
US 2,122,654 discloses a shipping container comprising bottom, side and end walls with integral flaps to form end walls and reinforcing flaps hingedly connected thereto. - What is needed is a carton that is formed from a single blank, and which provides a reinforced integrated handle opening disposed in an end wall, where the carton walls are efficiently constructed without wasting expensive material in carton walls that are less likely to fail.
- The present invention seeks to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a carton comprising a tubular structure including a top panel, a bottom panel and a first and second opposed side panels and at least one end closure that comprises a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening, a side end flap hingedly connected to each of the first and second side panels, each side end flap comprising a cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening and a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge the reinforcing panel being folded to place its reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the cutout, wherein the top end flap is folded to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the cutouts in the first and second side end flaps characterised in that each reinforcing panel is hinged along an upper edge of a respective one of the side end flaps.
Preferably, wherein each side end flap comprises an upper edge a portion of which is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall.
Preferably, wherein said at least one end closure further comprises a bottom end flap hingedly connected to an edge of the bottom panel, the bottom end flap at least partially overlying the first and second side end flaps of said at least one end closure.
Preferably, wherein the top end flap of said at least one end closure at least partially overlaps the bottom end flap.
Preferably, wherein the side end flaps of said at least one end closure have end edges along which said cutouts are defined respectively, said end edges of said side end flaps being disposed adjacent to each other such that said side end flaps are in the same plane without overlapping each other.
Preferably, wherein the cutouts of said side end flaps of said at least one end closure are aligned to form an aperture that is disposed in registry with said handle opening.
Preferably, wherein said handle opening is defined by an endless edge.
Preferably, wherein said end edges of said side end flaps are folded end edges along which overlay panels are hingedly connected respectively.
Preferably, wherein said end edges of said side end flaps are free end edges along which no carton parts are hingedly connected.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for forming a carton having a tubular structure, said blank including a top panel, a bottom panel and first and second opposed side panels and at least one end closure comprising top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening, a first side end flap hingedly connected to the first side panel and a second side end flap hingedly connected to the second side panel, each side end flap comprising a first cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimension of at least part of the handle opening: and a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge characterised in that the reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to an upper edge of one pf the side end flaps each of the side end flaps being adjacent said hinged connections to the first side panel and second side panel respectively, the reinforcing panel being foldable about a hinged connection to place the reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the first cutout of the one of the side end flaps; wherein the top end flap is fordable to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the cutouts in the first and second side end flaps.
Preferably, comprising an overlay panel having a second cutout, the overlay panel hingedly connected to an end edge or a lower edge of each of the side end flaps, the overlay panel being foldable about a hinged connection to place a reinforcing edge of the second cutout in reinforcing proximity to the first cutout.
Preferably, wherein the first cutout in each of the first and second side end flaps combines with the respective second cutout to create an aperture having endless edges in a set up condition.
Preferably, at least one end closure further comprises a bottom end flap hingedly connected to an end edge of the bottom panel such that in a set up condition, the bottom end flap at least partially overlying the first and second side end flaps of said at least one end closure.
Preferably, wherein the top end flap of said at least one end closure is structured and arranged to at least partially overlap the bottom end flap in a set up condition.
Preferably, wherein the side end flaps of said at least one end closure have end edges along which said first and second cutouts are defined respectively, said end edges of said side end flaps being disposed adjacent to each other such that said side end flaps lie in the same plane without overlapping each other in a set up condition.
Preferably, wherein the cutouts of said side end flaps of said at least one end closure are aligned to form an aperture that is disposed in registry with said hand opening in a set up condition.
Preferably, wherein said handle opening is defined by an endless edge.
Preferably, wherein the top panel is hingedly connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel and said hinged connection is substantially parallel to a hinged connection connecting the reinforcing panel to the at least one of the side end flaps.
Preferably, wherein said end edge of said side end flaps are free end edges along which no carton parts are hingedly connected.
Preferably, wherein said edge along which said overlay panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the lower edge with respect to said first cutout; and said edge along which said reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the upper edge with respect to said first cutout.
Preferably, wherein the overlay panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap along the end edge of said side end flap; and said edge along which said reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the upper edge with respect to said first cutout.
The various embodiments of the present invention overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a sleeve type carton formed from a sing sheet of paperboard or other foldable sheet material, the carton having a handle opening disposed in an end wall, wherein at least the weight bearing portion of the periphery of the handle opening is reinforced by three layers of sheet material.
More specifically, the various embodiments of the exemplary carton include a top panel, a first side panel hingedly connected to the top panel, a bottom panel hingedly connected to the first side panel, a second side panel hingedly connected to the bottom panel, and at least one end closure. The end closure is formed from a top end flap hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening disposed therethrough. The end closure also includes side end flaps hingedly connected to the first and second side panels respectively, each side end flap including a cutout disposed at an outer edge or as an endless edged aperture, the cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening. Each side end flap also includes a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge, the reinforcing panel being foldable to place its reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the respective cutout. The top end flap is foldable to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the cutouts in the first and second side end flaps.
In one embodiment, each side end flap includes a notched cutout disposed at an outer edge, the notched cutout having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening. An overlay panel hingedly connected along a transverse edge of each side end flap includes a complementary notched cutout. The overlay panel is foldable along the transverse edge into a face contacting arrangement with the side end flap, such that the cutout in the overlay panel is in registry with the cutout in the side end flap. Each side end flap also includes a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge, the reinforcing panel being foldable to place its reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the cutouts in the respective side end flaps and overlay panels, thereby creating a notched cutout that is three plies thick along the hand-engaging portion. The side end flaps at an end of the erected carton are folded inwardly such that the outer edges abut one another and the respective three-ply notched cutouts align to approximate the shape of the handle opening. The top end flap is foldable to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps and overlay panels so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the three-ply notched cutouts in the first and second side end flaps, creating a handle section that is four plies thick along its hand engaging portion. - In an alternative embodiment, each overlay panel is hingedly connected to the respective side end flap along the outer longitudinal edge of the side end flap and includes a cutout that is a mirror image of the cutout in the side end flap. Together, the cutouts in the overlay panel and the adjacent side end flap form an endless edged aperture that is bisected by the outer edge of the side end flap, which is defined by a fold line.
- The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the aspects and features of the present invention, which should be construed to be merely illustrative of various potential applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by combining various aspects of the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims.
-
FIG.1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to an exemplary embodiment not forming part of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank ofFIG, 1 , with reinforcing panels folded over and secured to the side end flaps. -
FIG. 3 is a view taken along theline 11!-111 InFIG. 2 , showing an exemplary reinforcing panel in face contacting arrangement with a side end flap. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partially erected carton formed from the blank ofFIGS. 1 and2 , prior to sealing one of its end closures. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the carton ofFIG. 4 , in fully erected condition. -
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a partially erected carton formed from the blank ofFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the blank ofFIG. 8 , with overlay panels and reinforcing panels folded over and secured to the side end flaps. -
FIG. 10 is an end view taken along the line X-X inFIG. 9 , showing an exemplary overlay panel and an exemplary reinforcing panel in face contacting arrangement with a side end flap. -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a partially erected carton formed from the blank ofFIG. 8 , prior to sealing one of its end closures. -
FIG.12 Is a plan view of a third alternative embodiment of the present Invention of a blank for forming a carton with reinforced end handles. - As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples to illustrate aspects of the invention that may be embodied In various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
- Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate certain of the various aspects of exemplary embodiments of a carton having reinforced end handles. The exemplary embodiments of the carton of the present invention are for enclosing, carrying and dispensing articles such as beverage cans or bottles, although the cartons of the present Invention may be utilized to package any suitable article. Generally described, the exemplary cartons are formed from a foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, or the like.
- Referring now to
FIG. 1 not part of the present invention, to manufacture the firstexemplary carton 200, blank 100 is cut from a single sheet of the foldable sheet material, although it is contemplated that the blank 100 may include several separate panels that are secured together. The inside surface the blank 100 is shown. The blank 100 includes four major panels, namely, atop panel 102, afirst side panel 104, abottom panel 106, and asecond side panel 108. Thepanels top panel 102 is hingedly connected alongfold line 110 to a side edge offirst side panel 104. A side edge offirst side panel 104 is hingedly connected alongfold line 112 to a side edge ofbottom panel 106. A side edge ofbottom panel 106 Is hingedly connected alongfold line 114 to a side edge ofsecond side panel 108. The other side edge oftop panel 102 is hingedly connected alongfold line 118 to anedge flap 116, although any means for securing thesecond side panel 108 to thetop panel 102 together may be used. - Each of the
panels carton 200, as will be described in greater detail below.Top panel 102 is hingedly connected totop end flaps fold lines First side panel 104 is hingedly connected to first side end flaps 124a, 124b along end edges defined byfold lines Bottom panel 106 is hingedly connected tobottom end flaps fold lines side end panel 108 is hingedly connected to secondside end flaps fold lines 134a,134b. - To provide the reinforced end handles H (best shown in
FIG. 5 ) on each end of thecarton 200, handle openings having complementary dimensions and positions are provided in at least some of the end flaps. More specifically:top end flaps handle openings side end flaps handle openings - Each of the
handle openings carton 200 can be lifted and carried easily. In the embodiment shown, the shape chosen includes an upper arch that conforms to the singers of a hand. As depicted, the upper arch is defined byfold lines cushioning flaps handle opening handle openings top end flaps top panel 102 as defined byfold lines lines first side panel 104 as defined byfold lines handle openings side end flaps second side panel 108 as defined byfold lines 134a, 134b. - Each set of handle openings 136, 144, 152 also has a lateral axis B, B', B" that is perpendicular to axis of elongation A, A', A", the handle openings being symmetrical about the lateral axes.
- As mentioned above, the
handle openings end flaps FIG. 3 ). Similarly, handleopenings FIG. 3 ). - The dimensions and shapes of the
end flaps composite end closure 210 with a reinforced end handle H. The width X of first side end flaps 124a, 124b and secondside end flaps fold lines top panel 102, as defined byfold lines bottom panel 106, as defined byfold lines bottom panel 106 may be substantially equal in length to the end edges of thetop panel 102, thereby creating a carton with a substantially rectangular tubular cross section. Alternatively, the end edges oftop panel 102 may differ in length from the end edges ofbottom panel 106, thereby creating an carton with a substantially trapezoidal cross section or a gabled tubular cross section (not shown) having shoulders, as is known in the art. The trapezoidal or gabled cross section with a relatively larger base is particularly useful to enclose tapered articles such as beer bottled. - The
exemplary carton 200 may be erected around an article or group of articles, or may be at least partially erected and then loaded and sealed. To facilitate an understanding of the configuration of thecarton 200, one of potentially many contemplated techniques for erecting thecarton 200 will now be described as a series of steps that may be performed substantially simultaneously or in any practical order, with some or all of the steps being performed either manually or automatically, such as by a packaging machine. - The exemplary process of erecting the carton is performed in two stages. The first stage is performed typically as part of the process of manufacturing the
carton 200. In the first stage, a blank is cut, folded and then secured into a flattened tubular condition so that it can be shipped to a packing facility as a sleeve. The following are the details: In plant equipment (IPE) at the manufacturing site cuts the blank 100 from a single sheet of foldable sheet material as described above, and cut, scores, imprints or otherwise defines fold lines, severance lines, and cutout sections. For instance, theedges handle openings carton 200 is erected. - After the blank 100 is cut out in the form shown in
FIG. 1 , adhesive or other means for securing is applied to the inside surface of anportion side end flap portions panels panel side end flap panel respective fold line respective handle opening 144a, 144b, 152a. 152b, coinciding with the lateral axes thereof. In alternative embodiments, reinforcing panels may be separate pieces of sheet material that are applied as laminates to the side end flaps. Then, at or about the same time: reinforcingpanel 160a is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of side end flap 124a; reinforcingpanel 160b is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of side end flap 124b; reinforcingpanel 162a is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface ofside end flap 132a; and reinforcingpanel 162b Is folded so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface ofside end flap 132b. By this means, the reinforcingpanels side end flap FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing reinforcingpanel 162a andside end flap 132a, to aid in understanding the relationship between each of the reinforcing panels and the respective side end flap. - At this point, the blank 100 is configured as shown in
FIG. 2 . By folding reinforcingpanels side end flaps handle openings FIG. 3 , which is taken along III-III inFIG. 2 . The first phase of the process is completed by applying adhesive or other securing means to the outside surface ofedge flap 116, foldingedge flap 116 so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface oftop panel 102,and folding the entire blank 100 alongfold line 112 so that the-inside surface oftop panel 102 is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface ofsecond side panel 108 and the outside surface ofedge flap 116 is secured to the inside surface ofsecond side panel 108. - The second stage of erecting the
carton 200 may be performed at a bottling or packaging facility. The flattened blanks 100 are loaded into a packaging machine, which in known fashion, disposestop panel 102 oppositebottom panel 106 and disposesfirst side panel 104 oppositesecond side panel 108 so that thecarton 200 is configured as a tubular sleeve having a substantially rectangular as shown inFIG. 4 , although trapezoidal or gabled cross sections are also contemplated. Thus,top panel 102 becomestop wall 202,first side panel 104 becomesfirst side wall 204,bottom panel 106 becomesbottom wall 206, andsecond side panel 108 becomessecond side wall 208. - Articles are loaded into the
carton 200 through one or both of the now open ends, and then the ends are sealed. The ends of thecarton 200 are substantially identical, with similar parts being identified using the same element number modified by the suffix "a" or "b", where element numbers ending in "a" are associated withend closure 210, and elements identified with "b" are associated withend closure 212. Accordingly, formation of only one of theend closures - As can be seen in
FIG. 4 , first side panel 124a andsecond side panel 132a are folded toward the interior of thecarton 200 untilfold lines handle opening 136a. It should be noted thathandle opening 136a may be relatively larger or smaller to account for slight variations in alignment. Adhesive is applied to the inside surface ofbottom end flap 128a, andbottom end flap 128a is folded toward the interior of thecarton 200 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the lower portions of the outside surfaces ofside end flaps 124a, 132a. Adhesive is applied to the inside surface oftop end flap 128a, andtop end flap 128a is folded toward the interior of thecarton 200 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the upper portions of the outside surfaces ofside end flaps 124a, 132a.Top end flap 120a may overlapbottom end flap 132a somewhat (as shown inFIG. 5 ), or conversely,bottom end flap 132a may overlaptop end flap 120a. - Once the
carton 200 is fully erected as shown inFIG: 5 , eachend closure edge 138a is substantially aligned with and reinforced by the doubled overedge 150a of handle opening 144a, and the remainder of the periphery of the handle H is substantially aligned with and reinforced by the doubled over edge 154a ofhandle opening 152a, making the area at or near all of the edges of the handle three plies thick. - Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that reinforcement Is most needed along the weight-bearing portion of a handle opening in a carton. A first embodiment of the present invention,
carton 700 will now be described to exemplify the principles and teachings of the present invention.Carton 700 is formed from blank 600 (FIG. 6 ), and embodies a configuration that provides triple reinforcement of the handle H, while consuming even less sheet material. - Generally,
carton 700 differs fromcarton 200 principally by the substitution ofcutouts side end flaps panels 660a, 660b, 664a, 664b, which are partially detached alongrespective severance lines 663a, 663b, 666a, 666b, folded alongrespective fold lines side end panels panels 660a, 660b, 664a, 664b is thereby placed In reinforcing proximity to the weight-bearing portion of cutout 652a, 652b, 644a, 644b. In the embodiment shown, and with reference toFIG. 7 , the weight-bearing portion of cutout 652a, 652b, 644a, 644b is defined by at least part offold line panels 660a, 660b 664a, 664b are also in reinforcing proximity to the weight-bearing portions ofhandle opening respective fold lines - The elements of blank 600 and
carton 700 are otherwise substantially Identical to the corresponding elements of blank 100 andcarton 200. For instance,bottom panel 206 is substantially identical tobottom panel 606, andtop wall 202 is substantially identical totop wall 702. - Referring now to
FIG. 8 , to manufacture the second embodiment of the present invention carton 1100 (FIG. 11 ), blank 800 is cut from a single sheet of the foldable sheet material, although it is contemplated that the blank 800 may include several separate panels that are secured together. The inside surface the blank 800 is shown. The blank 800 includes four major panels, namely, abottom panel 802, afirst side panel 804, atop panel 806, and asecond side panel 808. Thepanels bottom panel 802 is hingedly connected alongfold line 810 to a side edge offirst side panel 804. A transverse side edge offirst side panel 804 is hingedly connected alongfold line 812 to a side edge oftop panel 806. A transverse side edge oftop panel 806 is hingedly connected alongfold line 814 to a side edge ofsecond side panel 808. The other side edge ofbottom panel 802 is hingedly connected to anedge flap 816 alongfold line 818, although any means for securing thesecond side panel 808 to thebottom panel 802 may be used. - Each of the
panels carton 1100, as will be described in greater detail below.Bottom panel 802 is hingedly connected tobottom end flaps fold lines First side panel 804 is hingedly connected to firstside end flaps fold lines Top panel 806 is hingedly connected tobottom end flaps fold lines side end panel 808 is hingedly connected to secondside end flaps fold lines - Each of the
side end flaps First overlay panels side end flaps fold lines first overlay panels side end flaps first overlay panels side end flaps severance lines 840a, 840b, respectively, and separated or separable from thebottom end flaps severance lines apertures overlay panels second overlay panels side end flaps fold lines second overlay panels side end flaps second overlay panels side end flaps severance lines - First reinforcing
panels side end flaps fold lines 854a. 854b, respectively. The first reinforcingpanels side end flaps panels top end flaps 828a. 828b byseverance lines side end flaps severance lines panels side end flaps fold lines 862a, 862b, respectively. The second reinforcingpanels side end flaps panels top end flaps severance lines 864a, 864b, respectively, and separated or separable from secondside end flaps severance lines apertures 868a, 868b to facilitate folding the reinforcingpanels apertures panels - To provide the reinforced end handles (not shown) on each end of the
carton 1100, handle openings and notched cutouts having complementary dimensions and positions are provided in at least some of the end flaps and overlay panels. More specifically:top end flaps handle openings side end flaps cutouts first overlay panels cutouts 876a, 876b; secondside end flaps cutouts 878a, 878b; andsecond overlay panels cutouts - As mentioned above, the
handle opening 872a and notched cutouts, 874a, 876a, 878a. 880a have complementary shapes, dimensions, and positions so as to be placed in registry with one another when theoverlay panels end flaps handle opening 872b and notched cutouts, 874b, 876b, 878b. 880b are complementarily shaped, dimensioned, and positioned so as to be placed in registry with one another when theoverlay panels FIG. 11 ). - The
exemplary carton 1100 may be erected around an article or group of articles, or may be at least partially erected and then loaded and sealed. To facilitate; an understanding of the configuration of thecarton 1100, one of potentially many contemplated techniques for erecting thecarton 1100 will now be described as a series of steps that may be performed substantially simultaneously or in any practical order, with some or all of the steps being performed either manually or automatically, such as by a packaging machine. - The exemplary process of erecting the carton is performed In two stages. The first stage is performed typically as part of the process of manufacturing the
carton 1100. In the first stage, a blank is cut, folded and then secured into a flattened tubular condition so that it can be shipped to a packing facility as a sleeve. The following are the details: In plant equipment (IPE) at the manufacturing site cuts the blank 800 from a single sheet of fordable sheet material as described above, and cut, scores, imprints or otherwise defines fold lines, severance lines, and cutout sections. For instance, theedges handle openings cutouts carton 1100 is erected. - After the blank 800 is cut out in the form shown in
FIG. 8 , adhesive or other means for securing sheet material is applied to the inside surface of theoverlay panels panels overlay panel 836a is folded aboutfold line 838a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of firstside end flap 824a;overlay panel 836b is folded about 838b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of firstside end flap 824b;overlay panel 846a is folded about 848a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of secondside end flap 832a; andoverlay panel 846b is folded aboutfold line 848b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the inside surface of secondside end flap 832b. In this manner, theoverlay panels side end flaps 824a, . 824b, 832a, 832b, respectively, and the notchedcutouts cutouts - Then, or about the same time: first reinforcing
panel 852a is folded aboutfold line 854a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface offirst overlay panel 836a and the underlying portion of the inside surface of firstside end flap 824a; first reinforcingpanel 852b is folded aboutfold line 854b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface offirst overlay panel 836b and the underlying portion of the inside surface of firstside end flap 824b; second reinforcingpanel 860a is folded aboutfold line 862a so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface ofsecond overlay panel 846a and the underlying portion the inside surface of the secondside end flap 832a; second reinforcingpanel 860b is folded about fold line 862b so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the underlying portion of the outside surface ofsecond overlay panel 846b and the underlying portion of the inside surface of secondside end flap 832b. By this means, the reinforcingpanels overlay panels side end flaps - At this point, the blank 800 is configured as shown in
FIG. 9 . Theoverlay panels side end flaps panels respective overlay panels FIG.10 is an end view taken along X-X inFIG. 9 , which shows the end edge of firstside end flap 824a,first overlay panel 836a, and first reinforcingpanel 852a, to aid in understanding the relationship between each of the reinforcing panels, overlay panels, and the respective side end flaps. - The first phase of the process is completed by applying adhesive or other securing means to the outside surface of
edge flap 816, foldingedge flap 816 so that its inside surface is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface ofbottom panel 802,and folding the entire blank 800 alongfold line 812 so that the inside surface oftop panel 802 is in face contacting arrangement with the inside surface ofsecond side panel 808 and the outside surface ofedge flap 816 is secured to the inside surface ofsecond side panel 808. - The second stage of erecting the
carton 1100 may be performed at a bottling or packaging facility. The flattenedblanks 800 are loaded into a packaging machine, which in known fashion, disposestop panel 806 oppositebottom panel 802 and disposesfirst side panel 804 oppositesecond side panel 808 so that thecarton 1100 is configured as a tubular sleeve having a substantially rectangular as shown inFIG.11 , although trapezoidal or gabled cross sections are also contemplated. Thus,top panel 806 becomestop wall 1106,first side panel 804 becomesfirst side wall 1104,bottom panel 802 becomesbottom wall 1102, andsecond side panel 808 becomessecond side wall 1108. - Articles are loaded into the
carton 1100 through one or both of the now open ends, and then the ends are sealed. The ends of thecarton 1100 are substantially identical, with similar parts being identified using the same element number modified by the suffix "a" or "b", where element number ending in "a" are associated with end closure 1110 (not shown) and elements identified with "b" are associated withend closure 1112. Accordingly, formation of only one of theend closures 1110, 1112 will be described In detail below. - As can be seen in
FIG. 11 , thefirst side panel 824a andsecond side panel 832a are simultaneously or independently folded toward the interior of thecarton 1100 untilside end flaps handle opening 872a. It should be noted thathandle opening 872a may be relatively larger or smaller to account for slight variations in alignment. Adhesive is applied to the inside surface ofbottom end flap 820a, andbottom end flap 820a is folded toward the interior of thecarton 1100 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the lower portions of the outside surfaces ofside end flaps top end flap 828a, andtop end flap 828a is folded toward the interior of thecarton 1100 so that its inside surface is secured in a face contacting arrangement to the upper portions of the outside surfaces ofside end flaps Top end flap 828a may overlapbottom end flap 820a somewhat, or conversely,bottom end flap 820a may overlaptop end flap 828a. As another alternative,top end flap 828a may abut or be spaced apart frombottom end flap 820a with neither over lapping the other. - Once the
carton 1100 is fully erected, eachend closure 1110, 1112 includes a handle, the edges of which being triply reinforced. In other words, a portion of periphery of the handle as defined byhandle opening 872a Is substantially aligned with and reinforced by the three-ply cutouts C to make the upper edge of the handle four plies thick. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that reinforcement Is most needed along the weight-bearing or hand-engaging portion of a handle opening in a carton. - A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described to exemplify the principles and teachings of the present invention. A carton (not shown) is formed from a blank 1200 (as shown in
FIG. 12 ) and embodies an alternative configuration that provides triple reinforcement of the handle H. Generally, the blank 1200 differs from the blank 800 principally by the substitution ofhandle openings side end flaps overlay panels overlay panel side end flap fold line handle opening fold line overlay panels respective fold line side end flaps panels overlay panels overlay panels side end flaps - The elements of blank 1200 and the carton (not shown) are otherwise substantially similar to the corresponding elements of blank 800 and
carton 1100. For instance, thebottom panel 802 is substantially identical tobottom panel 1202. Further, the blank 1200 is erected to form the carton by substantially the same process as described above where blank 800 is erected to form thecarton 1100. - The present invention has been illustrated in relation to a particular embodiment which is intended in all respects to be illustrative rather than restrictive. For example, as used herein, directional references such as "top", "base", "bottom", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "supper", "middle, "lower", "front" and "rear" do not limit the respective walls of the carton to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these walls from one another. Furthermore, the various embodiments demonstrate that the top, sides, and bottom panels may be hingedly connected to one another and secured into a tubular sleeve in any order that provides a top panel opposing a bottom panel and opposing side panels. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a junction including a single hinge only, indeed, it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more potentially disparate means for hingedly connecting materials. The exemplary cartons preferably have handles at both ends, although it is contemplated to include only one handle disposed in one of the end closures.
- Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that any suitable means for securing sheet material may be used, including magnets, non-permanent adhesives, or hook and loop fasteners such as VELCRO®, which is a trademark registered to Velcro Industries B.V. Additionally, although the handle openings of the invention are described as having removable centers, the centers may be only partially removable and may function as finger cushions after being partially detached from the edges of the handle openings.
- It must be emphasized that the law does not require and it is economically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, all such modifications, combinations, and variations are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.
Claims (21)
- A carton (700; 1100), comprising:a tubular structure including a top panel (602; 806; 1206), a bottom panel (606; 802; 1202) and a first and second opposed side panel (604, 608; 804, 808; 1204, 1208); andat least one end closure that comprises:a top end flap (620a, 620b; 828a, 828b; 1228a, 1228b) hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening (636a, 636b; 872a, 872b; 1272a, 1272b);a side end flap (624a, 624b; 632a, 632b; 824a, 824b; 832a, 832b; 1224a, 1224b; 1232a, 1232b) hingedly connected to each of the first and second side panels, each side end flap comprising:a cutout (652a, 652b, 644a, 644b; 874a, 874b, 878a, 878b, 1274a, 1274b, 1278a, 1278b) having dimensions complementary to the dimensions of at least part of the handle opening; anda reinforcing panel (660a, 660b, 664a, 664b; 852a, 852b; 860a, 860b; 1252a, 1252b; 1260a, 1260b) having a reinforcing edge, the reinforcing panel being folded to place its reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the cutout, wherein the top end flap is folded to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the cutouts in the first and second side end flaps characterised in that each reinforcing panel is hinged along an upper edge (662a, 662b, 667a, 667b; 854a, 854b, 862a, 862b; 1254a, 1254b, 1262a, 1262b) of a respective one of the side end flaps.
- The carton of claim 1, wherein each side end flap comprises an upper edge a portion of which is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall.
- The carton of claim 1, wherein said at least one end closure further comprises a bottom end flap (628a, 628b; 820a, 820b; 1220a, 1220b) hingedly connected to an end edge of the bottom panel, the bottom end flap at least partially overlying the first and second side end flaps of said at least one end closure.
- The carton of claim 3, wherein the top end flap of said at least one end closure at least partially overlaps the bottom end flap.
- The carton of claim 1, wherein the side end flaps of said at least one end closure have end edges along which said cutouts are defined respectively, said end edges of said side end flaps being disposed adjacent to each other such that said side end flaps are in the same plane without overlapping each other.
- The carton of claim 5, wherein the cutouts of said side end flaps of said at least one end closure are aligned to form an aperture that is disposed in registry with said handle opening.
- The carton of claim 1, wherein said handle opening is defined by an endless edge.
- The carton of claim 5, wherein said end edges of said side end flaps are folded end edges along with overlay panels (1236a, 1236b, 1246a, 1246b) are hingedly connected respectively.
- The carton of claim 5, wherein said end edges of said side end flaps are free end edges along which no carton parts are hingedly connected.
- A blank (600, 800; 1200) for forming a carton having a tubular structure, said blank including a top panel (602; 806; 1206), a bottom panel (606; 802; 1202) and first and second opposed side panels (604, 608; 804, 808; 1204, 1208); and at least one end closure comprising top end flap (620a, 620b; 828a, 828b; 1228a, 1228b) hingedly connected to the top panel, the top end flap including a handle opening (636a, 636b; 872a, 872b; 1272a, 1272b), a first side end flap (624a, 624b; 824a: 824b;1224a, 1224b) hingedly connected to the first side panel and a second side end flap (632a, 632b; 832a, 832b; 1232a, 1232b) hingedly connected to the second side panel, each side end flap comprising a first cutout (644a, 644b; 652a, 652b; 874a, 874b; 878a. 878b; 1274a, 1274b; 1278a, 1278b) having dimensions complementary to the dimension of at least part of the handle opening and a reinforcing panel having a reinforcing edge characterised in that the reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to an upper edge of one of the side end flaps (662a, 662b, 667a, 667b; 854a, 854b, 862a, 862b; 1254a, 1254b, 1262a, 1262b) each of the side end flaps being adjacent said hinged connections to the first side panel and second side panel respectively, the reinforcing panel being foldable about a hinged connection to place the reinforcing edge in reinforcing proximity to the first cutout of the one of the side end flaps; wherein the top end flap is foldable to at least partially overlie the first and second side end flaps so that the handle opening in the top end flap is in registry with the cutouts in the first and second side end flaps (660a, 660b; 664a, 664b; 852a, 852b; 860a, 860b; 1252a,1252b; 1260a, 1260b).
- The blank according to claim 10 comprising an overlay panel (836a, 836b; 846a, 846b; 1236a, 1236b; 1246a, 1246b) having a second cutout, the overlay panel hingedly connected to an end edge or a lower edge of each of the side end flaps, the overlay panel being foldable about a hinged connection to place a reinforcing edge of the second cutout in reinforcing proximity to the first cutout.
- The blank of claim 11 wherein the first cutout in each of the first and second side end flaps combines with the respective second cutout to create an aperture having endless edges in a set up condition.
- The blank of either of claims 10 or 11, said at least one end closure further comprises a bottom end flap hingedly connected to an end edge of the bottom panel such that in a set up condition, the bottom end flap at least partially overlying the first and second side end flaps of said at least one end closure.
- The blank of claim 13, wherein the top end flap of said at least one end closure is structured and arranged to at least partially overlap the bottom end flap in a set up condition.
- The blank of claim 10, wherein the side end flaps of said at least one end closure have end edges along which said first and second cutouts are defined respectively, said end edges of said side end flaps being disposed adjacent to each other such that said side end flaps lie in the same plane without overlapping each other in a set up condition.
- The blank of claim 15 wherein the cutouts of said side end flaps of said at least one end closure are aligned to form an aperture that is disposed in registry with said handle opening in a set up condition.
- The blank of claim 10, wherein said handle opening is defined by an endless edge.
- The blank of claim 15, wherein the top panel is hingedly connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel and said hinged connection is substantially parallel to a hinged connection connecting the reinforcing panel to the at least one of the side end flaps.
- The blank of claim 15, wherein said end edges of said side end flaps are free end edges along which no carton parts are hingedly connected.
- The blank of claim 11, where said edge along which said overlay panel (836a, 836b; 846a, 846b) is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the lower edge with respect to said first cutout; and said edge along which said reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the upper edge with respect to said first cutout.
- The blank of claim 11 wherein the overlay panel (1236a, 1236b, 1246a, 1246b) is hingedly connected to said side end flap along the end edge of said side end flap; and said edge along which said reinforcing panel is hingedly connected to said side end flap comprises the upper edge with respect to said first cutout.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US69041205P | 2005-06-13 | 2005-06-13 | |
US11/320,542 US7743970B2 (en) | 2005-06-13 | 2005-12-28 | Carton with reinforced end handles |
PCT/US2006/023078 WO2006135918A1 (en) | 2005-06-13 | 2006-06-13 | Carton with reinforced end handles |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1893498A1 EP1893498A1 (en) | 2008-03-05 |
EP1893498B1 true EP1893498B1 (en) | 2011-10-19 |
Family
ID=37056929
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP06773104A Not-in-force EP1893498B1 (en) | 2005-06-13 | 2006-06-13 | Carton with reinforced end handles |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1893498B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE529343T1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2375638T3 (en) |
RU (1) | RU2007149050A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2006135918A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2922502C (en) * | 2008-07-17 | 2018-06-19 | Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc | Carton with handle |
MX343676B (en) * | 2012-02-16 | 2016-11-16 | Graphic Packaging Int Inc | Carton with reinforced handle. |
AU2015305741B2 (en) | 2014-08-19 | 2019-01-31 | Graphic Packaging International, Llc | Carton with reinforced handle |
WO2016069534A1 (en) | 2014-10-27 | 2016-05-06 | Graphic Packaging International, Inc. | Carton for articles |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2122654A (en) | 1936-10-05 | 1938-07-05 | Fort Wayne Corrugated Paper Co | Shipping container |
US2196502A (en) * | 1939-02-15 | 1940-04-09 | Container Corp | Container |
US2702155A (en) * | 1950-07-27 | 1955-02-15 | Int Paper Co | Shipping package |
GB2324293A (en) * | 1997-04-19 | 1998-10-21 | Donald Wood | Carton with hinged lid panels. |
-
2006
- 2006-06-13 AT AT06773104T patent/ATE529343T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2006-06-13 WO PCT/US2006/023078 patent/WO2006135918A1/en active Application Filing
- 2006-06-13 RU RU2007149050/12A patent/RU2007149050A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2006-06-13 ES ES06773104T patent/ES2375638T3/en active Active
- 2006-06-13 EP EP06773104A patent/EP1893498B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Also Published As
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ES2375638T3 (en) | 2012-03-02 |
WO2006135918A1 (en) | 2006-12-21 |
ATE529343T1 (en) | 2011-11-15 |
EP1893498A1 (en) | 2008-03-05 |
RU2007149050A (en) | 2009-07-10 |
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