Classifications

• • 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
  • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
  • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
  • B65D71/36—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
  • B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
  • B65D2571/00141—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper glued
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
  • B65D2571/00438—Holes
  • B65D2571/00444—Holes for fingers
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
  • B65D2571/00456—Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper
  • B65D2571/00462—Straps made by two slits in a wall
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
  • B65D2571/00456—Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper
  • B65D2571/00469—Straps made between two handholes
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
  • B65D2571/00512—Handles or suspending means movable or foldable between an extended and a retracted position
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00555—Wrapper opening devices
  • B65D2571/00561—Lines of weakness
  • B65D2571/00574—Lines of weakness whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00648—Elements used to form the wrapper
  • B65D2571/00654—Blanks
  • B65D2571/0066—Blanks formed from one single sheet
• • 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
  • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
  • B65D2571/00709—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element
  • B65D2571/00722—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface
  • B65D2571/00728—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular with end walls, e.g. walls not extending on the whole end surface the end walls being closed by gluing

Definitions

• a conventional carton typically has a removable dispenser panel that allows containers to be dispensed through the dispenser opening formed when the dispenser panel is removed.
• a carton may have an end panel or a side panel formed from flaps that can be separated to create a dispenser opening in the carton.
• Such cartons are often also provided with one or more handle apertures that allow the cartons to be carried. Such handles may, however, be cumbersome or unwieldy to use.
• Conventional cartons also must be refrigerated or otherwise cooled in order to maintain the carton contents at a desired temperature.
• the invention is generally directed to a carton for containing a plurality of articles.
• the carton comprises a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton.
• End flaps are respectively foldably attached to panels of the plurality of panels.
• the end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton.
• a dispenser comprises a tear line and at least one dispenser section foldably attached to the carton for at least partially defining an opening in the carton for accessing the containers.
• a gusset connects the end flaps. The gusset can be unfolded to allow relative movement between the end flaps and to allow the dispenser section to pivot outwardly to enlarge the opening.
• the invention is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton.
• the blank comprises a plurality of panels and end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels.
• Dispenser features comprise a tear line and at least one dispenser section for at least partially defining an opening in the carton formed from the blank.
• a gusset connects the end flaps and can be unfolded to allow relative movement between the end flaps and to allow the dispenser section to pivot outwardly to enlarge the opening.
• the invention is generally directed to a method of opening a carton.
• the method comprises providing a carton having a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton.
• the plurality of panels comprise a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel, and end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels.
• the end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton.
• a handle comprises at least a portion of the top panel and the side panels.
• a dispenser comprising a dispenser section foldably attached to the carton and at least partially defined by a tear line in the top panel.
• the method further comprises grasping the handle to at least partially separate the handle from the top panel and end flaps and to create an opening for activating the dispenser, and activating the dispenser by pivoting the dispenser section outward to increase the size of a dispenser opening in the carton.
• the invention is generally directed to a carton for containing a plurality of articles.
• the carton comprises a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, a dispenser comprising a tear, line and at least one dispenser section foldably attached to the carton, and a gusset connecting the end flaps.
• the invention is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton.
• the blank comprises a plurality of panels, end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, dispenser features comprising a tear line and at least one dispenser section, and a gusset connecting the end flaps.
• the invention is generally directed to a method of opening a carton. The method comprises providing a carton having a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton and end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, a handle, and a dispenser comprising a dispenser section foldably attached to the carton. The method further comprises grasping the handle to at least partially separate the handle from at least one panel to create an opening for activating the dispenser. The method comprises activating the dispenser by pivoting the dispenser section outward to increase the size of a dispenser opening in the carton.
• Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank used to form a carton according to one embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective of the carton assembled from the blank.
• Fig. 3 is a first end view of the carton.
• Fig. 4 is a second end view of the carton.
• FIG. 5 is a side view of the carton showing a handle initially activated to a position for carrying the carton.
• Fig. 6 is a side view of the carton with a first and a second dispenser section initially opened.
• Fig. 7 is a perspective of the carton with the first and second dispenser sections further opened.
• the present invention generally relates to opening, dispensing, and handling features for cartons that contain articles such as containers, bottles, cans, etc.
• the articles can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example.
• the articles can be made from materials suitable in composition for packaging the particular food or beverage item, and the materials include, but are not limited to, glass; aluminum and/or other metals; plastics such as PET, LDPE 5 LLDPE 3 HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like, or any combination thereof.
• Cartons according to the present invention can accommodate articles of any shape.
• beverage containers e.g., plastic beverage bottles
• the terms “lower,” “bottom,” “upper” and “top” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright cartons.
• FIG. 1 is a plan view of the exterior side 1 of a blank, generally indicated at 8, used to form a carton 190 (Fig. 2) according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• the carton 190 can be used to house a plurality of articles such as containers C (Figs. 6 and 7).
• the carton 190 has a dispenser, generally indicated at 7 (Fig. 2), formed in the carton for allowing access to the containers from the top of the carton, and a handle, generally indicated at 11, formed in the top of the carton for grasping and carrying the carton.
• a bottom receptacle 13 is formed in the bottom of the carton 190 for accommodating, for example, liquids, ice, or other coolants in the carton bottom.
• ice can be added to the opened carton 190 to cool containers C, and beverages held therein. As the ice melts, all or a part of the resultant runoff water is held within the bottom receptacle 13.
• the carton 190 is sized to house twelve containers C in a single layer in a 3x4 arrangement, but it is understood that the carton may be sized and shaped to hold containers of a different or same quantity in more than one layer and/or in different row/column arrangements (e.g., 1x6, 3x6, 2x6, 2x6x2, 3x4x2, 2x9, etc.).
• the blank 3 has a longitudinal axis Ll and a lateral axis L2. As shown in Fig.
• the blank 8 may have at least partial symmetry about a longitudinal center line C L and about a lateral center line C T . Therefore, certain elements in the drawing figures have similar or identical reference numerals in order to reflect the whole or partial longitudinal and transverse symmetries and similar or like elements may be indicated by an "a" or "b" suffix designation for a corresponding reference number.
• the blank 8 comprises a bottom panel 10 foldably connected to first and second side panels 20, 30 at transverse fold lines 21, 31, a first top panel 40 foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at a transverse fold line 41, and a second top panel 50 foldably connected to the second side panel 30 at a transverse fold line 51.
• the first and second top panels 40, 50 will at least partially overlap in the erected carton 190.
• the bottom panel 10 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 12a and a second bottom end flap 12b.
• the first side panel 20 is foldably connected to a first side flap 22a and a second side flap 22b.
• the second side panel 30 is foldaby connected to a first side flap 32a and a second side end flap 32b.
• the first top panel 40 is foldaby connected to a first top end flap 42a and a second top end flap 42b.
• the second top panel 50 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 52a and a second top end flap 52b.
• the end flaps 12a, 42a, 52a and side flaps 22a, 32a extend along a first marginal area of the blank 8, and are foldably connected at a first longitudinal fold line 62a that extends along the length of the blank.
• the end flaps 12b, 42b, 52b and side flaps 22b, 32b extend along a second marginal area of the blank 8, and are foldably connected at a second longitudinal fold line 62b that also extends along the length of the blank.
• the longitudinal fold lines 62a, 62b may be, for example, substantially straight, or offset at one or more locations to account for blank thickness or for other factors.
• the end flaps 12a, 42a, 52a and side flaps 22a, 32a close a first end 46 of the carton
• the end flaps 12b, 42b, 52b and side flaps 22b, 32b close a second end 48 of the carton.
• different flap arrangements can be used for closing the ends 46, 48 of the carton 5.
• gussets 70a, 70b are formed in the blank 8, one at each corner of the bottom panel 10. Two of the gussets 70a are respectively foldably connected to a side flap 22a, 22b of the first side panel 20 at an oblique fold line 71a, and to a bottom end panel 12a, 12b at a lateral fold line 75a . Each gusset 70a comprises a first gusset panel 72a foldably connected to a second gusset panel 74a at an oblique fold line 73a. The other two gussets 70b are respectively foldably connected to a side flap 32a, 32b of the second side panel 30 in a similar arrangement and manner as the gussets 70a.
• the features that comprise the handle 11 include a first handle panel 80 in the first top panel 40 and end flaps 42a, 42b defined by lateral tear lines 82, 84 and oblique end tear lines 86, 88.
• the handle panel includes a narrow gripping portion 81 centrally located in the top panel 40.
• the first top panel 40 includes apertures 92 adjacent the gripping portion 81 and at least partially defining access flaps 93 foldably connected to the top panel 40 by lateral fold lines 94, and cushion portions 98 foldably connected to the handle portion at lateral fold lines 96.
• End handle apertures 90 are formed at opposite ends of the handle portion 80 at the fold lines 62a, 62b.
• the features that form the handle 1 1 include a second handle panel 100 in the second top panel 50.
• the second handle panel 100 is defined by a lateral tear line 102 in the top panel 50 and side end flaps 52a, 52b, and a lateral fold line 104 longitudinally spaced from the tear line 102 in the top panel and extending across the end flaps 52a, 52b.
• the tear line 102 includes oblique end tear lines 106 in the end flaps 52a, 52b.
• the second handle panel 100 includes a gripping portion 101 centrally located in the top panel 50.
• the second handle panel 100 includes a flap 1 10 at least partially defined by a tear line in respective end flaps 52a, 52b and foldably attached at longitudinal fold lines 1 1 1 that generally coincide with the longitudinal fold lines 62a, 62b.
• Cushion portions 114 are foldably connected to the handle section 100 at fold lines 1 16.
• Handle apertures 112 are formed on respective sides of the handle section 100.
• a handle reinforcement flap 130 is foldably attached to the second handle portion 100 at the longitudinal fold line 104 and comprises a portion of respective end flaps 52a, 52b and the top panel 50.
• the handle reinforcement flap 130 includes notches 126 adjacent longitudinal fold lines 62a, 62b. In the illustrated embodiment the reinforcement flap 130 extends across the lateral width of the blank 8, but the reinforcement flap may be otherwise shaped and configured without departing from the invention.
• the features that comprise the dispenser 7 include a first dispenser section 76a on one side of the handle 1 1 and a second dispenser section 76b on the other side of the handle.
• the first dispenser section 76a is at least partially defined by the tear line 84 in the top panel, the tear lines 88 in the end panels 42a, 42b, and oblique tear lines 26a in the side flaps 22a, 22b.
• the first dispenser section 76a includes an upper (first) portion 77a that is pivotally attached to the side panel 20 at a first pivot location in the form of longitudinal fold line 79a.
• the upper portion 77a of the first dispenser section 76a includes a portion of the side panel
• the first dispenser section 76a includes a lower (second) portion 83a that is pivotally attached to the bottom panel 10 at a second pivot location in the form of longitudinal fold line
• the lower portion 83a of the first dispenser section 76a includes the portion of the side panel 20 below fold line 79a, portions of the side flaps 22a, 22b below tear lines 26a, and the gussets 70a connecting the side flaps 22a, 22b to the end flaps 12a, 12b.
• the second dispenser section 76b is generally shaped and constructed to have similar elements as the first dispenser section 76a.
• the second dispenser section 76b has an upper portion 77b pivotally attached to second side panel 30 at later fold line 79b and a lower portion 83b pivotally attached to the bottom panel 10 shaped and constructed as the first dispenser section 76a. It is understood that the second dispenser section could be omitted or that the second dispenser section could be otherwise shaped and arranged without departing from the invention.
• Glue or other adhesive is applied to the upper or exterior side of the first top panel 40, in regions generally between fold line 94, tear line 84 and fold line 41. Glue may also be applied to the lower or interior side of the second top panel 50, in regions generally between tear lines 102 and fold line 51, and to at least a portion of the reinforcement flap 130. All or a portion of the interior of the end panels 42a, 42b, 52a, 52b may also have glue applied thereto. Portions of the end panels 22a, 22b that will overlap one or more of the gusset panels 72, 74 may also have glue applied thereto. Containers C may be wrapped within the blank 8 in a 3 x 4 x 1 arrangement.
• the reinforcing flap 130 is folded inwardly about fold line 104 so that the underside of the reinforcing flap 130 overlaps the underside of the second handle portion 100.
• the first and second top panels 40, 50 are overlapped to secure them together.
• the ends of the blank 8 may be closed by folding the gusset panels 72, 74 inwardly, along with folding the end panels 12, 22, 42, 52 inwardly.
• the handle 11 is a three-ply handle formed by the first and second handle panels 80, 100 and the reinforcing portion 130, but the handle may comprise more or less than three layers of material without departing from the invention.
• the handle 11 includes handle openings 151, 153 on either side of the overlapped handle panels 80, 100.
• the carton 190 may be, for example, parallelepipedal or generally parallelepipedal in shape, or may be other shapes without departing from the invention.
• the handle 1 1 may be activated by a user placing there fingers in the handle openings 151, 153 and grasping the overlapped handle panels 80, 100 to lift the handle portions upward away from the top panels 40, 50 generally in the direction of arrow A4 in Fig. 5.
• the lifting of the handle panels 80, 100 tears the handle 1 1 at tear lines 82, 84, and 102 so as to at least partially separate the handle from the overlapped top panels 40, 50 and the overlapped end flaps 42a, 42b, 52a, 52b.
• the handle 11 may be further partially extended so that the handle further separates from a remainder of the carton 190 along one or more of the lines 82, 84, 102, 104 (Fig. 1).
• the carton 190 may be carried by the extended handle 11.
• the carton may be grasped and carried by respective openings (not shown) formed by folding the carton flaps 110 inward about fold lines 11 1.
• the dispenser 7 is activated to a partially opened condition by breaching the carton along the lines 86, 88, 106, 26 (Fig. 1) and pivoting the upper portions 77a, 77b of the first and second dispenser sections 76a, 76b about the fold lines 79a, 79b so as to create respective dispenser openings 81a, 81b.
• the dispenser openings 81a, 81b allow access to the carton 190 and expose the tops of the containers C.
• Fig. 1 the dispenser openings 81a, 81b
• the dispenser openings 81a, 81b of the carton 190 are further opened by pivoting the lower portions 83a, 83 b of the dispenser sections 76a, 76b by pulling the side panels 20, 30 outwardly in the direction of arrows A5, A6, to extend the gussets 70a, 70b outwardly.
• glue may be selectively applied to either the top panels 42a, 42b or the side panels 22a, 22b, 32a, 32b so that only an upper portion 78a, 78b of the side panels is adhered to the top panels.
• Lower portion 78c, 78d of the side panels 22a, 22b, 32a, 32b below the tear lines 26a, 26b are free from adhesive attachment to the top panels 42a, 42b and the gussets 70a, 70b so that the lower portions can pivot outwardly when the dispenser sections are pivoted and the gussets unfolded.
• one or more of the gusset panels 72, 74 may be glued to an opposed side end panel 22, 32 to maintain the side walls 20 at a desired angle with respect to the bottom panel 10. The pivoting of the lower portions 83a, 83b of the dispenser sections 76a, 76b expands the dispenser openings 81a, 81b.
• ice, cold water, additional containers, or other items can be placed in the carton 190 through one or both of the dispenser openings 81a, 81b.
• the gussets 70, the bottom end panels 12, and the side end panels 22 at least partially close the bottom portion of the carton 190 and create the partially closed bottom receptacle 13 in the bottom of the carton.
• the partially closed bottom receptacle 13 of the opened carton 190 can therefore be used to retain liquids, such as water formed from melting ice, condensation, other liquids, and articles such as, for example, refuse or fine particulate matter such as powders.
• the bottom receptacle 13 may have a height H R below which the carton 190 is liquid-tight.
• the height H R represents a portion of the bottom of the carton 190 below which no glued seals or seams are formed through which water or other liquid might leak. That is, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment, no adhesive seal or other joinder of material where fluid might escape the carton 190 is located in the carton below the height H R .
• the bottom receptacle 13 may therefore be formed from a continuous section of folded material of the blank 8.
• the height H R of the liquid-tight portion of the receptacle 13 below which there are no glued seams may generally be between approximately 0 inches to approximately 4 inches (approximately 0 mm to approximately 102 mm), and, more preferably, may be approximately 2% inches (approximately 70 mm). It is understood that all dimensional information presented herein is intended to be illustrative and is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the invention.
• the handle 1 1 of the illustrated embodiment is a three-ply handle comprising three layers of material (e.g., handle portions 80, 100 and reinforcement flap 130).
• the handle 1 1 allows the carton 190 to be carried using only one hand.
• the handle 11 can be selected, for example, to have sufficient strength to carry the carton 190, containers C accommodated in the carton, and additional items such as ice or cold water loaded into the carton 190 after the carton has been opened.
• Cartons according to the principles of the present invention may be formed from materials such as paperboard. Therefore, if exposed to water or other liquids for extended periods of time, the carton may allow for the passage of liquid through the wetted carton surfaces due to partial permeability of the carton material.
• the term "liquid-tight" is generally used to define a section of a carton that is formed from a continuous section of material or of a section without any glued seams through which liquid or fine particulate matter might leak, and the term “liquid- tight” therefore encompasses cartons that may become partially water permeable over time.
• the blanks according to the present invention can be, for example, formed
• the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be coated with a clay coating.
• the clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images.
• the blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blanks.
• the blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks.
• the blanks may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper.
• the caliper can be at least about 16.
• the blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton package to function at least generally as described above.
• the blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
• a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Priority Applications (9)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38190739

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (12)

Families Citing this family (106)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (62)

• 2007
  • 2007-02-05 EP EP07763687A patent/EP1996482B1/en not_active Not-in-force
  • 2007-02-05 AU AU2007212443A patent/AU2007212443B2/en not_active Ceased
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