EP2406147A1

EP2406147A1 - Wraparound article carrier having a bottom retention feature

Info

Publication number: EP2406147A1
Application number: EP10709125A
Authority: EP
Inventors: George Papasotiriou
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Current assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date: 2009-03-11
Filing date: 2010-03-09
Publication date: 2012-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-09
Also published as: EP2406147B1; RU2011141127A; CN102348610A; WO2010104812A1

Abstract

An article carrier for packaging at least one article includes at least one top panel (12) and at least one bottom panel (34, 36) interconnected by a pair of first (24) and second (22) side panels to provide a generally tubular structure, and a sloping heel panel (28) disposed between the at least one bottom panel and the first side panel. The sloping heel panel (28) is provided with at least one bottom receiving opening (100). The carrier further includes a first winglet panel (102) formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel. The first winglet panel (102) is defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening (100) and a first expansion slit (110) in the sloping heel panel. The first expansion slit extends from the sloping heel panel into the first side panel (24).

Description

WRAPAROUND ARTICLE CARRIER HAVING A BOTTOM RETENTION FEATURE

Background of the Invention The present disclosure relates generally to a carton for packaging articles and more particularly to a wraparound style article carrier having a bottom retention feature or bottom-retaining arrangement by which the bottoms of packaged articles are engaged and thereby retained securely in the article carrier such that undesired exit of the articles from the carrier is prevented.

Wraparound carriers are relatively inexpensive means for packaging articles since they require less material than those fully enclosing cartons. A wraparound carrier tightly wraps around articles to make them into one combined group or unit and frictionally retain the grouped articles within the carriers. To increase the article retaining capability, it is preferred that wraparound carriers are provided with article retention features. A bottom-receiving opening is one of the known article retention features. A typical bottom-receiving opening is located at a lower portion of a wraparound carrier so that it can engage at least part of the bottom of an article in the carrier. Those known bottom-receiving openings typically are associated with cuts and creases to snugly receive the associated article bottoms and thereby to increase their retaining and stabilizing capability. Examples of various conventional bottom retention features are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,163,321 , 3,249,254, 3,263,893, 3,278,075, 3,384,291 3,495,704 and 4,374,562.

Summary of the Invention

A wraparound article carrier for packaging at least one article is provided according to the present disclosure. The article carrier includes at least one top panel and at least one bottom panel interconnected by a pair of first and second side panels to provide a generally tubular structure, and a sloping heel panel disposed between the at least one bottom panel and the first side panel. The sloping heel panel is provided with at least one bottom receiving opening. The carrier further includes a first winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel. The first winglet panel is defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a first expansion slit in the sloping heel panel. The first expansion slit extends from the sloping heel panel into the first side panel.

In a preferred embodiment, the upper end of the expansion slit may be located above the upper end of the at least one bottom-receiving opening.

In another preferred embodiment, the expansion slit may be curved or contoured such that the center of curvature of part of the first expansion slit is located on the first side panel when the carrier is in a blank form.

In still another preferred embodiment, the first expansion slit may be curved or contoured such that a first part of the expansion slit is located between the at least one bottom-receiving opening and the center of curvature of the first part of the expansion slit when the carrier is in a blank form. In this embodiment, the center of curvature of a second part of the first expansion slit may be located on one side of the expansion slit opposite the other side of the first expansion slit where the center of curvature of the first part is located. The center of curvature of the second part of the first expansion slit may be located on the first winglet panel.

In still another preferred embodiment, the first winglet panel may be provided with upper and lower connecting elements. The upper connecting element of the first winglet panel connects the first winglet panel to the first side panel whereas the lower connecting element connects the first winglet panel to the sloping heel panel. The upper and lower connecting elements may be provided such that the first winglet panel can rotate substantially about a notional line passing through the upper and lower connecting elements of the first winglet panel. The upper connecting element of the first winglet panel may be located at an elevation substantially higher than the upper end of the at least one bottom-receiving opening. In this embodiment, the upper connecting element of the first winglet panel may be formed from part of the first side panel. In a further preferred embodiment, the carrier may further include a second winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel. The second winglet panel may be disposed at a position across the at least one bottom-receiving opening from the first winglet panel. The second winglet panel may be defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a second expansion slit in the sloping heel panel. The second expansion slit may extend from the sloping heel panel into the first side panel. The upper end of the second expansion slit may be located above the upper end of the at least one bottom-receiving opening such that a notional straight line extending between the respective upper ends of the first and second expansion slits does not intersect the at least one bottom-receiving opening. The lower ends of the first and second expansion slits are turned away from each other.

In a still further preferred embodiment, the first side panel may be hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first winglet panel may be disposed such that the fold line is interrupted by the first winglet panel.

In a still further preferred embodiment, the first side panel may be hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first expansion slit may intersect the fold line.

The second aspect of the present disclosure provides a blank for forming an article carrier for packaging at least one article. The blank includes a bottom panel, a side panel, a sloping heel panel disposed between the bottom panel and the side panel so as to hingedly interconnect the bottom and side panels, at least one bottom- receiving opening defined at least in part in the sloping heel panel, and a first winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel. The first winglet panel is defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a first expansion slit in the sloping heel panel. The first expansion slit extends from the sloping heel panel into the first side panel. In a preferred embodiment, the first expansion slit may be curved or contoured such that the center of curvature of a part of the first expansion slit is located on the side panel.

In another preferred embodiment, the first expansion slit may be curved such that a first part of the expansion slit is located between the at least one bottom-receiving opening and the center of curvature of the first part of the first expansion slit. In this embodiment, the center of curvature of a second part of the first expansion slit may be located on one side of the expansion slit opposite the other side of the expansion slit where the center of curvature of the first part is located. The center of curvature of the second part of the expansion slit may be located on the first winglet panel. The first part may be formed in the side panel.

In a still another preferred embodiment, the blank may further include a second winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel. The second winglet panel may be disposed at a position across the at least one bottom-receiving opening from the first winglet panel. The second winglet panel may be defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a second expansion slit in the sloping heel panel. The second expansion slit may extend from the sloping heel panel into the side panel.

In a further preferred embodiment, the respective ends of the first and second expansion slits in the side panel may be disposed such that a notional straight line extending between the respective ends of the first and second expansion slits does not intersect the at least one bottom-receiving opening. The other ends of the first and second expansion slits may be turned away from each other.

In a still further preferred embodiment, the side panel may be hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first winglet panel may be disposed such that the fold line is interrupted by the first winglet panel. In a still further preferred embodiment, the side panel may be hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first expansion slit may intersect the fold line.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which an article carrier is formed according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the blank of FIG. 1 showing one of the bottom retention features.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, bottom-side perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1 , showing the winglet panels in their rotated positions.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton formed from the blank of FIG. 1 .

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the outer surface of a blank 10 for forming an exemplary wraparound carrier according to the present disclosure. The blank 10 is formed from a unitary or composite foldable sheet material such as paperboard, corrugated board, plastic, laminated material, any combination thereof, or the like. The blank 10 includes several panels that are connected to one another along transverse fold lines. More specifically, the blank 10 includes a top panel 12, a pair of shoulder panels 14, 16, a pair of side panels 22, 24, a pair of heel panels 26, 28 and a pair of bottom lap panels 34, 36. The shoulder panels 14, 16 and the heel panels 26, 28 are designed to be disposed in their respective sloping positions as best shown FIG. 4 when the blank 10 is wrapped around a group of articles "B", e.g., bottles in this embodiment. The shoulder panels 14, 16 are hingedly connected to the opposite side edges of the top panel 12 by fold lines 18, 20 respectively. The side panels 22, 24 are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the shoulder panels 14, 16 by the fold lines 26, 28 respectively. The heel panels 26, 28 are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the side panels 22, 24 along fold lines 30, 32 respectively. The bottom lap panels 34, 36 are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the heel panels 26, 28 along fold lines 38, 40 respectively. The blank 10 is constructed so that it can be shipped by the manufacturer to a merchant or other packer in the flattened condition shown in FIG. 1.

Bottom panel interlocking means is provided in the form of locking tabs 42, 44, 46 and 48 formed in bottom panel 34. These locking tabs cooperate in known manner with retention tabs 50, 52, 54 and 56 formed in the bottom panel 36. It should be understood that alternative means for interlocking the panels include adhesives, staples, and the like.

In addition machine tightening apertures 58, 60 and 62 are formed in the bottom lap panel 34 and, likewise, similar machine tightening apertures 64, 66, 68 are formed in the bottom lap panel 36. The top panel 12 is provided with finger tabs 70, 72 for defining finger apertures for receiving user's fingers to facilitate lifting and transporting of the carrier.

Bottom retention features 50 are formed primarily in each of the sloping heel panels 26, 28. Each bottom retention feature 50 includes an arrangement of severance lines (e.g., slits) and an opening that cooperate to engage a portion of the bottom of the respective article to stabilize the bottom. Since the basic elements of each bottom retention feature 50 are essentially identical, only one bottom retention feature 50 in one of the sloping heel panels 28 will hereinafter be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, each retention feature 50 has a bottom-receiving opening 100 with a pair of winglets 102, 104 disposed on the opposite sides of the opening 100. The opening 100 is generally trapezoidal and having a shorter upper end edge 120 and a longer arched lower end edge 122. Each winglet 102, 104 is formed primarily from the respective sloping heel panel 28 and is positioned alongside the side edges 124, 126 of the respective bottom-receiving opening 100. The side edges 124, 126 of the opening 100 are curved or arched such that the side edges 124, 126 define the respective inner tabs 130 of the winglets 102, 104 that extend substantially into the opening 100. The outer tabs 132 of the winglets 102, 104 are defined by curved or contoured expansion slits or severance lines 1 10, 1 12 such that the outer tabs 132 of the winglets 102, 104 extend away from the opening 100 as well as from the inner tabs 130. The expansion slits 1 10, 1 12 are formed primarily in the sloping heel panel 28 and extend into the side panel 28.

The expansion slits or severance lines 1 10, 1 12 remain spaced from the adjacent opening 100 so that the winglets 102, 104 remain connected to the carrier. Each expansion slit 1 10, 1 12 terminates at its upper end that is spaced from the opening 100. More specifically, the upper end of each expansion slit 1 10, 1 12 is spaced above the upper end edge 120 of the opening 100 such that a notional straight line "Y" extending between the respective upper ends of the expansion slits 1 10, 1 12 does not intersect the opening 100 (see FIG. 5). This arrangement results in formation of an upper connecting element 106 of the respective winglet 102, 104 between the opening 100 and the upper end of that expansion slit. As apparent from FIG. 2, these upper connecting elements 106 connect the winglets 102, 104 to the adjacent side panel 24. Each upper connecting element 106 is positioned at a location above the opening 100 along the upper end edge 120 of the opening 100. The upper connecting elements 106 are joined together through a portion of the adjacent side panel 24.

Each expansion slit 1 10, 1 12 terminate at its lower end that is spaced from the opening 100. This provides a lower connecting element 108 of the respective winglet 102, 104 at a location between the opening 100 and the lower end of that expansion slit. The lower connecting elements 108 connect the winglets to the adjacent sloping heel panel 28. As apparent from FIG. 2, each lower connecting element 108 is positioned at a location between the opening 100 and the lower end of that expansion slit. Stated differently, each expansion slit 1 10, 1 12 extends from its upper end that is located within the adjacent side panel 24 down to its lower end that is located adjacent to the fold line 40. As illustrated in FIG. 5, each expansion slit 1 10, 1 12 is curved or contoured such that a first part 1 10a of that expansion slit has its center P1 of curvature located on the side panel 24 whereas a second part 1 10b of that expansion slit has its center of curvature P2 located on the winglet 102. Stated differently, the first part 1 10a of each expansion slit is located between the opening 100 and the center P1 of curvature of the first part 1 10a while the center P2 of curvature of the second part

1 10b of each expansion slit is located between the opening 100 and the second part

1 10b of each expansion slit. The first part 1 10a is disposed above the second part 110b.

Referring back to FIG. 1 , the top panel 12 is provided with neck-receiving features 200. Each neck-receiving feature 200 includes a neck-receiving opening 201 formed at least in part in the top panel 12. The neck-receiving opening 201 extends into the adjacent sloping shoulder panel 14, 16. A collar 202 is provided to enable enlargement of the opening 201 when needed to react to tilting or upward thrusting of the neck of the respective article "B". The collar 202 is defined by a pair of relief lines 204, 206, which in the exemplary embodiments, each includes a contoured cut line bifurcated by a single nick 208. The details of the neck-receiving feature 200 are described in the PCT International Application published under Publication No. WO2008/058294, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

In order to form the carrier from the blank shown in FIG. 1 , it is necessary to envelope the blank about a group of multiple articles (e.g., six bottles in this) so that the necks of the articles project respectively through the neck-receiving openings 201 as best shown in FIG. 4. (In FIG. 4, the details of the neck-receiving features 200 have been abbreviated for the illustration purpose.) Then the blank is tightened around the group of articles by cooperation between apertures 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 and 68 and appropriate machine elements. Following this, the bottom lap panels 34, 36 are placed in an overlapping, face-contacting relationship and then the locking tabs 42, 44, 46 and 48 are engaged with the retaining tabs 50, 52, 54 and 56 so that the bottom lap panels 34, 36 are secured together to form a composite bottom of the carrier. By this means, the carrier is completely erected as a wraparound carrier shown in FIG. 4.

The bottom retention features 50 function in order to aid in holding the bottoms of the articles in place when the blank 10 is formed into a loaded carrier. FIG. 3 shows the working positions into which the winglets 102, 104 are moved when the opening 100 receives part of the bottom of an article "B" as a result of forming a loaded carrier. As the blank 10 is pulled around the article "B" to form a carrier, the winglets 102, 104 are forced to move out of the plane of the sloping heel panel 28 so that they fit tightly against the article "B". More specifically, each winglet 102, 104 is rotated by the respective article "B" about a notional line X-X passing through both the connecting elements 106, 108 of the winglets 102, 104. This rotation takes place such that the inner tab 130 of each winglet is moved outward of the carrier and pressed against the respective article "B" whereas the outer tab 132 is move into the carrier and pressed against the respective article "B". These winglets 102, 104 provide added friction between the article "B" and the carrier in such a manner that the winglets 102, 104 provide a "cradle" to the article bottom. This improves the retention of the article within the carrier.

Although the bottom-receiving opening has been described as being generally trapezoidal, the size and shape of each opening 100 is determined by the size and profile of the associated article "B" in the carrier. As apparent in FIG. 2, the upper and lower connecting elements 106, 108 of each winglet 102, 104 are only portions through which the respective winglet is connected to the carrier.

In the foregoing embodiment, the carrier 10 has a single top panel 12 and two bottom panels 34, 36. However, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the carrier may have a single top panel and a single bottom panel. In such an embodiment, the single top or bottom panel may be secured to one of the associated side panels by means of a securing flap which may be either a glue flap or a panel strip with slits or apertures that cooperate with locking tabs on the bottom panel. A tubular carrier having a single top and a single bottom is disclosed, for example, in US Patent No. 4,919,266 which is hereby incorporated by reference. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the carrier may include two top panels and a single bottom panel. The two top panels may be secured in an overlapping, face- contacting relationship or they may be placed side by side and secured together by using a pair of upright handle panels. The former top panel arrangement is disclosed, for example, in US Patent No. 3,186,587 whereas the latter panel arrangement is disclosed, for example, in US Patent No. 4,146,168, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. In a further embodiment of the present disclosure, the carrier may include two top panel and two bottom panels. The two bottom panels are secured together in an overlapping relationship while the top panels are placed side by side with an upright handle therebetween. An example of such a carrier is disclosed in US Patent no. 6,155,412 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The present disclosure 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", "upper", "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 structure in any order that provides a top panel opposing a bottom panel and opposing side panels. Any reference to a hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a junction including a single hinge only; indeed, it is envisaged that a hinged connection can be formed from one or more potentially disparate means for hingedly connecting materials. Any reference to a slit should not be construed as necessarily referring to a severance line including a single cut or cut line only; indeed, it is envisaged that a slit can be formed from a combination of short cut lines, short score lines and/or nicks for creating a line that is readily function as a cut or slit in sheet material. Such a cut or slit may be referred to as a perforation. The exemplary carton preferably have a pair of finger openings at the carrier top although it is contemplated to include only one finger opening disposed in one of the carton walls.

Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment 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

1. An article carrier for packaging at least one article, the article carrier comprising: at least one top panel and at least one bottom panel interconnected by a pair of first and second side panels to provide a generally tubular structure; a sloping heel panel disposed between the at least one bottom panel and the first side panel, wherein the sloping heel panel is provided with at least one bottom receiving opening; and a first winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel, the first winglet panel being defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a first expansion slit in the sloping heel panel, the first expansion slit extending from the sloping heel panel into the first side panel.

2. The article carrier of claim 1 , wherein an upper end of the expansion slit is located above an upper end of the at least one bottom-receiving opening.

3. The article carrier of claim 1 , wherein the expansion slit is curved such that a center of curvature of a part of the first expansion slit is located on the first side panel when the carrier is in a blank form.

4. The article carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first expansion slit is curved such that a first part of the expansion slit is located between the at least one bottom- receiving opening and a center of curvature of the first part of the expansion slit when the carrier is in a blank form.

5. The article carrier of claim 4, wherein a center of curvature of a second part of the first expansion slit is located on one side of the expansion slit opposite the other side of the first expansion slit where the center of curvature of the first part is located.

6. The article carrier of claim 5, wherein the center of curvature of the second part of the first expansion slit is located on the first winglet panel when the carrier is in a blank form.

7. The article carrier of claim 5, wherein the first part is disposed above the second part.

8. The article carrier of claim 2, wherein the first winglet panel is provided with upper and lower connecting elements, the upper connecting element of the first winglet panel connecting the first winglet panel to the first side panel, the lower connecting element connecting the first winglet panel to the sloping heel panel, the upper and lower connecting elements being provided such that the first winglet panel can rotate substantially about a notional line passing through the upper and lower connecting elements of the first winglet panel, the upper connecting element of the first winglet panel being located at an elevation substantially higher than the upper end of the at least one bottom-receiving opening.

9. The article carrier of claim 8, wherein the upper connecting element of the first winglet panel is formed from part of the first side panel.

10. The article carrier of claim 1 , further comprising a second winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel, the second winglet panel being disposed at a position across the at least one bottom-receiving opening from the first winglet panel, the second winglet panel being defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a second expansion slit in the sloping heel panel, the second expansion slit extending from the sloping heel panel into the first side panel.

1 1. The article carrier of claim 10, wherein an upper end of the second expansion slit is located above the upper end of the at least one bottom-receiving opening such that a notional straight line extending between the respective upper ends of the first and second expansion slits does not intersect the at least one bottom-receiving opening.

12. The article carrier of claim 10, wherein the lower ends of the first and second expansion slits are turned away from each other.

13. The article carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first side panel is hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first winglet panel is disposed such that the fold line is interrupted by the first winglet panel.

14. The article carrier of claim 1 , wherein the first side panel is hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first expansion slit intersects the fold line.

15. A blank for forming an article carrier for packaging at least one article, the blank comprising: a bottom panel; a side panel; a sloping heel panel disposed between the bottom panel and the side panel so as to hingedly interconnect the bottom and side panels; at least one bottom-receiving opening defined at least in part in the sloping heel panel; and a first winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel, the first winglet panel being defined by the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a first expansion slit in the sloping heel panel, the first expansion slit extending from the sloping heel panel into the first side panel.

16. The blank of claim 15, wherein the first expansion slit is curved such that a center of curvature of a part of the first expansion slit is located on the side panel.

17. The blank of claim 15, wherein the first expansion slit is curved such that a first part of the expansion slit is located between the at least one bottom-receiving opening and a center of curvature of the first part of the first expansion slit.

18. The blank of claim 17, wherein a center of curvature of a second part of the first expansion slit is located on one side of the expansion slit opposite the other side of the expansion slit where the center of curvature of the first part is located.

19. The blank of claim 18, wherein the center of curvature of the second part of the expansion slit is located on the first winglet panel.

20. The blank of claim 17, wherein the first part is formed in the side panel.

21. The blank of claim 15, further comprising a second winglet panel formed at least in part from part of the sloping heel panel, the second winglet panel being disposed at a position across the at least one bottom-receiving opening from the first winglet panel, the second winglet panel being defined by the at least one bottom- receiving opening and a second expansion slit in the sloping heel panel, the second expansion slit extending from the sloping heel panel into the side panel.

22. The blank of claim 15, wherein respective ends of the first and second expansion slits in the side panel are disposed such that a notional straight line extending between the respective ends of the first and second expansion slits does not intersect the at least one bottom-receiving opening.

23. The blank of claim 22, wherein the other ends of the first and second expansion slits are turned away from each other.

24. The blank of claim 15, wherein the side panel is hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first winglet panel is disposed such that the fold line is interrupted by the first winglet panel.

25. The blank of claim 15, wherein the side panel is hingedly connected to the sloping heel panel along a fold line, and the first expansion slit intersects the fold line.