WO2021236708A1 - Carrier with lid - Google Patents

Carrier with lid Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2021236708A1
WO2021236708A1 PCT/US2021/033059 US2021033059W WO2021236708A1 WO 2021236708 A1 WO2021236708 A1 WO 2021236708A1 US 2021033059 W US2021033059 W US 2021033059W WO 2021236708 A1 WO2021236708 A1 WO 2021236708A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
panel
cover
carrier
central
handle
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2021/033059
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John Murdick Holley, Jr.
Original Assignee
Graphic Packaging International, Llc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Graphic Packaging International, Llc filed Critical Graphic Packaging International, Llc
Priority to MX2022014467A priority Critical patent/MX2022014467A/en
Priority to EP21809571.9A priority patent/EP4153503A4/en
Priority to CA3180955A priority patent/CA3180955A1/en
Publication of WO2021236708A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021236708A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D71/00Bundles 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
    • B65D71/06Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12Packaging 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
    • B65D71/36Packaging 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
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D71/00Bundles 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
    • B65D71/0003Tray-like elements provided with handles, for storage or transport of several articles, e.g. bottles, tins, jars
    • B65D71/0014Tray-like elements provided with handles, for storage or transport of several articles, e.g. bottles, tins, jars with one longitudinal partition
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D5/00Rigid 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
    • B65D5/20Rigid 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-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form
    • B65D5/2052Rigid 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-up portions connected to a central panel from all sides to form a container body, e.g. of tray-like form characterised by integral closure-flaps
    • B65D5/2057Inter-engaging self-locking flaps
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D5/00Rigid 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
    • B65D5/42Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/4266Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D5/00Rigid 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
    • B65D5/42Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/64Lids
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D5/00Rigid 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
    • B65D5/42Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/64Lids
    • B65D5/66Hinged lids
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00129Wrapper locking means
    • B65D2571/00135Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00141Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper glued
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00333Partitions, i.e. elements contacting a major part of each aarticle or extending across the whole length of the wrapper
    • B65D2571/0037Partitions, i.e. elements contacting a major part of each aarticle or extending across the whole length of the wrapper extending from at least a side wall
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00432Handles or suspending means
    • B65D2571/00438Holes
    • B65D2571/0045Holes for hands
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00432Handles or suspending means
    • B65D2571/00456Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00432Handles or suspending means
    • B65D2571/00456Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00475Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper and extending ion a substantially vertical plane
    • B65D2571/00487Handles or suspending means integral with the wrapper and extending ion a substantially vertical plane and formed integrally with a partition
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00648Elements used to form the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00654Blanks
    • B65D2571/0066Blanks formed from one single sheet
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00709Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element
    • B65D2571/00802Other shapes
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS 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
    • B65D2571/00Bundles 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
    • B65D2571/00123Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00833Other details of wrappers
    • B65D2571/00932Flattenable or foldable packages
    • B65D2571/00938Means for maintaining collapsible packages in erected state
    • B65D2571/00975Locking tabs

Definitions

  • the present disclosure generally relates to carriers or cartons for holding and or displaying products. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to basket-style carriers that may include tamper-resistant features.
  • one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carrier for holding one or more products.
  • the carrier can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel.
  • a central panel can at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion.
  • the side panel can extend at least partially from the front panel to the central panel.
  • a lid can at least partially close a top of the carrier.
  • the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carrier for holding one or more products.
  • the blank can comprise a plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel.
  • a central panel can be for at least partially dividing the carrier formed from the blank into a front portion and a back portion.
  • the side panel can be for extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel when the carrier is formed from the blank.
  • a cover feature can be for at least partially closing a top of the carrier formed from the blank.
  • the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carrier for holding one or more products. The method can comprise obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, a central panel, and a cover feature.
  • the plurality of panels can comprise at least a front panel and a side panel.
  • the method further can comprise forming an interior of the carrier by positioning the panels of the plurality of panels to extend at least partially around the interior of the carrier and positioning the central panel to at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion.
  • the side panel can extend at least partially between the front panel and the central panel.
  • the method can comprise folding the cover feature to at least partially close a top of the carrier.
  • Fig. 1 is an exterior plan view of a blank used to form a carrier according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • Figs. 2A-2C are plan views showing the folding of the blank of Fig. 1 to form a folded construct according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construct in the form of a flattened carrier according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • Fig. 4A is a perspective view of an interior of an erected carrier formed from the flattened carrier of Fig. 3 according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 4A showing the closing of the top of the carrier according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the erected carrier of Figs. 4A and 4B according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • Figs. 6A and 6B are views of folding features in the interior of the carrier of Fig. 5 according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 5 with the handle panel folded and a portion of the carrier broken away to show the folding features of Fig. 6 A according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, for holding and displaying products such as produce (e.g., fruits and/or vegetables), other suitable food items, and/or other suitable articles.
  • Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate products of numerous different shapes.
  • the terms “inner,” “interior,” “outer,” “exterior,” “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” “forward,” “back,” “rear,” and “rearward” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers.
  • Fig. 1 is a plan view of an exterior side 1 of a blank 3 used to form a basket-style carrier 5 (Fig. 5) for holding products (not shown), in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the carrier 5 is configured to contain one or more products in a front portion of the carrier and one or more products in a back portion of the carrier.
  • the carrier 5 can be sized and shaped to hold more or fewer products without departing from the disclosure.
  • the carrier 5 includes a reinforced handle 7 (Figs. 4B, 5, and 7), which can include handle features 14 (Fig. 1) as described in more detail below.
  • the blank 3 and the carrier 5 can include front cover features 16a for forming a lid for closing the top of the front portion of the carrier 5 and back cover features 16b for forming a lid for closing the top of the back portion of the carrier 5 as described in more detail below.
  • the carrier 5 is the erected carrier 5 of Figs. 4A-7 that receives the products. As shown in Fig. 3, the carrier 5 can be in a collapsed configuration, which can be referred to as a folded or collapsed carrier 5a in one embodiment.
  • the carrier blank 3 has a longitudinal axis LI and a lateral or transverse axis L2 and has a front portion 9, a back portion 11, front bottom features 12a foldably connected to the front portion, and back bottom features 12b foldably connected to the back portion.
  • the front portion 9 and back portion 11 are for being folded about a lateral centerline CL (Figs. 1 and 2C) when the carrier blank 3 is formed into the carrier.
  • the carrier blank 3 is formed into the collapsed carrier 5a by folding the carrier blank 3 about the centerline CL so that the front portion 9 and the back portion 11 are generally overlapped (e.g., Fig. 3).
  • the front portion 9 comprises a front panel 15a foldably connected to a first side panel 17a and a second side panel 19a.
  • a front central flap 27a is foldably connected to the first side panel 17a at a longitudinal fold line 29a.
  • Longitudinal fold lines 31a, 33a foldably connect the respective first and second side panel 17a, 19a to the front panel 15a.
  • a lateral fold line 35a connects the front cover features 16a to the front panel 15a, the first side panel 17a, and the second side panel 19a.
  • the front portion 9 includes a front central panel 41a foldably connected to the second side panel 19a along a longitudinal fold line 43a.
  • the features of the back portion 11 of the blank 3 include a back panel 15b, a first side panel 17b, a second side panel 19b, a back central flap 27b and a back central panel 41b that are generally a mirror-image of the corresponding panel or flap of the front portion 9.
  • the back central flap 27b and the front central flap 27a are foldably connected along a lateral fold line 45, which can be collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and/or substantially collinear) with the centerline CL.
  • Corresponding components e.g., panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, etc.
  • corresponding reference numbers that differ by the “a” or “b” suffix, with the “a” components corresponding to the front portion 9 and the “b” components corresponding to the back portion 11 of the blank 3.
  • any of the front portion 9, the back portion 11, the front and back panels 15a, 15b, the side panels 17a, 19a, 17b, 19b, the central flaps 27a, 27b, the central panels 41a, 41b, could be omitted or could be alternatively shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the present disclosure.
  • the handle features 14 and the cover features 16a, 16b are generally disposed between the front and back portions 9, 11 in the blank 3.
  • the handle features 14 include a front handle panel 47a and a back handle panel 47b foldably connected to the front handle panel 47a along a lateral fold line or other line of weakening 49.
  • the lateral fold line 49 is collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and/or substantially collinear) with the centerline CL of the blank 3.
  • the front handle panel 47a is foldably connected to the front central panel 41a along a lateral fold line 51a
  • the back handle panel 47b is foldably connected to the back central panel 41b along a lateral fold line 51b.
  • the lateral fold lines 51a, 51b can be collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and/or substantially collinear) with the respective lateral fold lines 35a, 35b.
  • the front handle panel 47a can include a front handle opening 53a and a front handle cushion flap 55a foldably connected to the front handle panel along a lateral fold line 57a adjacent the front handle opening 53a.
  • the back handle panel 47b can include a back handle opening 53b and a back handle cushion flap 55b foldably connected to the back handle panel along a lateral fold line 57b adjacent the back handle opening 53b.
  • the handle cushion flaps 55a, 55b can be separable from the respective central panels 41a, 41b along respective cuts 59.
  • the blank 3 can include folding features 61 for facilitating folding of the handle panels 47a, 47b along the lateral fold lines 51a, 51b in the erected carton 5 (e.g., for stacking the carton 5 with other cartons 5) as described in more detail below.
  • the folding features 61 can include one or more folding apertures 63 a (e.g., three folding apertures 63a) extending in the front central panel 41a and or the front handle panel 47a, interrupting the lateral fold line 51a and one or more folding apertures 63b (e.g., four folding apertures 63b) extending in the back central panel 41b and or the back handle panel 47b, interrupting the lateral fold line 51b.
  • a cut line 52a can extend from an end of the lateral fold line 5 la to an edge of the blank 3 and a cut line 52b can extend from one of the folding apertures 63b or adjacent to one of the folding apertures 63b to the edge of the blank 3. As shown in Fig.
  • the folding apertures 63a and the folding apertures 63b are offset from one another (e.g., in the lateral direction L2) so that the folding apertures 63a are aligned (e.g., at least partially aligned, substantially aligned, and or generally aligned) along the longitudinal direction LI with respective portions or segments of the lateral fold line 51b extending between the folding apertures 63b and the folding apertures 63b are aligned (e.g., at least partially aligned, substantially aligned, and/or generally aligned) along the longitudinal direction LI with respective portions or segments of the lateral fold line 51a extending between the folding apertures 63 a.
  • the fold line 51a can have four segments aligned with the four folding apertures 63b, respectively, and the fold line 51b can have three segments aligned with the three folding apertures 63 a, respectively.
  • the folding apertures 63a, 63b are aligned with the portions of the respective fold lines 51b, 51a (Figs. 6A and 6B) so that the portions of the lateral fold line 51a can extend at least partially into the respective folding apertures 63b or the portions of the lateral fold line 51b can extend at least partially into the respective folding apertures 63a when the handle panels 47a, 47b are folded relative to the central panels 41a, 41b in the formed carton 5 (Fig. 7) as described in more detail below.
  • the handle features 14 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
  • the front cover features 16a can include a front top or cover panel 71a and front top or cover flaps 73a, 75a each foldably connected to the respective front panel 15a, first side panel 17a, and second side panel 19a along the lateral fold line 35a.
  • the back cover features 16b can include a back top or cover panel 71b and back top or cover flaps 73b, 75b each foldably connected to the respective back panel 15b, first side panel 17b, and second side panel 19b along the lateral fold line 35b.
  • the cover panels 71a, 71b can be separable from one another along a lateral cut line 77, which can be collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and or substantially collinear) with the centerline CL, the cover flaps 73a, 73b can be spaced apart from one another by a cutout 78, and the cover flaps 75a, 75b can be spaced apart from one another by a cutout 79. As shown in Fig.
  • cover flaps 73a, 73b can be separable from the respective central flaps 27a, 27b along respective longitudinal cut lines 81 and the cover flaps 73a, 73b can be separable from the respective handle panels 47a, 47b along respective longitudinal cuts 83.
  • the cover features 16a, 16b can include locking tabs 85 foldably connected to the cover panels 71a, 71b along respective longitudinal fold lines 86.
  • the locking tabs 85 can be separable from the respective cover flaps 73 a, 73b, 75a, 75b along respective cut lines 87 and can be at least partially separable from the cover panels 71a, 71b along longitudinal cut lines or tear lines 88 extending on either side of the respective fold lines 86 (e.g., extending from respective ends of the respective fold lines 86).
  • portions of the cover flaps 73a, 75a, 73b, 75b can be separable from portions of the respective cover panels 71a, 71b along portions of the respective longitudinal cut lines 88. As shown in Fig. 1, the cover flaps 73a, 73b, 75a, 75b can be partially separable from the respective side panels 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b along respective cuts 89 for forming respective slots 139 (Figs. 4B and 5) that can at least partially receive the respective locking tabs 85 as described in more detail below.
  • the cover features 16a, 16b could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured without departing from the disclosure.
  • the front botom features 12a can include a front botom panel 91a foldably connected to the front panel 15a, a central botom panel 93 a foldably connected to the central panel 41a, and a botom flap 95a foldably connected to the second side panel 19a.
  • the front botom panel 91a, the central botom panel 93 a, and the botom flap 95a are foldably connected to the respective front panel 15a, central panel 41a, and second side panel 19a along a lateral fold line 97a.
  • the front botom panel 91a can be connected to the first side panel 17a by a gusset 99a, which can include a first gusset panel 101a foldably connected to a second gusset panel 103a along an oblique fold line 105a and an intermediate gusset panel 107a foldably connected to the first gusset panel 101a and the second gusset panel 103 a along respective oblique fold lines 109a, 111a.
  • a gusset 99a can include a first gusset panel 101a foldably connected to a second gusset panel 103a along an oblique fold line 105a and an intermediate gusset panel 107a foldably connected to the first gusset panel 101a and the second gusset panel 103 a along respective oblique fold lines 109a, 111a.
  • the first gusset panel 101a can be separable from the second gusset panel 103a and the intermediate gusset panel 107a along a cut line 113a and an opening can extend along the gusset 99a, the front botom panel 91a, and the first side panel 17a.
  • the first gusset panel 101a can be foldably connected to the front botom panel 91a along a longitudinal fold line 115a and the second gusset panel 103a can be foldably connected to the first side panel 17a along a lateral fold line 117a.
  • the central botom panel 93 a can include an atachment flap 119a at least partially defined by an oblique fold line 121a.
  • the back botom features 12b can include a back botom panel 91b, a central botom panel 93b, and a botom flap 95b foldably connected to the respective back panel 15b, central panel 41b, and second side panel 19b along a lateral fold line 97b. As shown in Fig.
  • the back botom panel 91b can be connected to the first side panel 17b by a gusset 99b, which can include a first gusset panel 101b foldably connected to a second gusset panel 103b along an oblique fold line 105b and an intermediate gusset panel 107b foldably connected to the first gusset panel 101b and the second gusset panel 103b along respective oblique fold lines 109b, 111b.
  • a gusset 99b can include a first gusset panel 101b foldably connected to a second gusset panel 103b along an oblique fold line 105b and an intermediate gusset panel 107b foldably connected to the first gusset panel 101b and the second gusset panel 103b along respective oblique fold lines 109b, 111b.
  • the first gusset panel 101b can be separable from the second gusset panel 103b and the intermediate gusset panel 107b along a cut line 113b and an opening can extend along the gusset 99b, the back botom panel 91b, and the first side panel 17b.
  • the first gusset panel 101b can be foldably connected to the front botom panel 91b along a longitudinal fold line 115b and the second gusset panel 103b can be foldably connected to the first side panel 17b along a lateral fold line 117b.
  • the central botom panel 93b can include an attachment flap 119b at least partially defined by an oblique fold line 121b.
  • the back botom panel 91b can be larger than the front botom panel 91a, and the back botom panel 91b can include a lateral fold line 123.
  • botom features 12a, 12b could be omited or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
  • the blank 3 can include a plurality of openings or cutouts 125 (e.g., decorative openings or windows) in the front panel 15a, the back panel 15b, any of the side panels 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b, and or in other portions of the blank 3 for displaying the products contained in the carton 5.
  • a plurality of openings or cutouts 125 e.g., decorative openings or windows
  • Any of the cutouts 125 could be omited or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
  • any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured in the blank 3 without departing from the disclosure.
  • the blank 3 could be sized and or shaped to accommodate any suitable size or number of products without departing from this disclosure.
  • the collapsed carton 5a can be formed from the blank 3 by positioning the panels 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b, the central flaps 27a, 27b, the central panels 41a, 41b, the handle panels 47a, 47b, the bottom panels 91a, 91b, 93a, 93b, the bottom flaps 95a, 95b, and the gussets 99a, 99b relative to each other to form the front portion 9 and the back portion 11 and by folding along the centerline CL to form the collapsed carrier 5a (Fig. 3).
  • the glue strips or lines Gl, G2, G3, G4, G5 can be applied to different portions of the blank 3 or the partially-formed carrier during the folding of the blank to form the carrier such as by a folder/gluer system (not shown).
  • the blank 3 is positioned with the interior side 2 facing up, and the central bottom panels 93a, 93b are folded along the respective fold lines 97a, 97b over the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the attachment flaps 119a, 119b are folded along the respective oblique fold lines 121a, 121b over the respective central bottom panels 93a, 93b.
  • the bottom flaps 95a, 95b are folded along the respective fold lines 97a, 97b over the respective side panels 19a, 19b and glue lines Gl are applied to the exterior side 1 of the bottom flaps 95a, 95b.
  • the central panels 41a, 41b and the handle panels 47a, 47b are folded over a remainder of the partially folded blank with the central panels 41a, 41b being folded along the fold lines 43a, 43b so that the handle panels 47a, 47b at least partially overlap the respective cover flaps 75a, 75b and the respective cover panels 71a, 71b and so that the central panels 41a, 41b at least partially overlap the respective side panels 19a, 19b and the respective front and back panels 15a, 15b.
  • the attachment flaps 119a, 119b are brought into face-to-face contact with the respective bottom flaps 95a, 95b so that the glue lines Gl glue the interior side 2 of the attachment flaps 119a, 119b to the exterior side 1 of the respective bottom flaps 95a, 95b.
  • glue lines G2 are applied along the exterior side 1 of the central panels 41a, 41b and the handle panels 47a, 47b and glue lines G3 are applied along the interior side 2 of the bottom panels 91a, 91b.
  • the side panels 17a, 17b, the cover flaps 73a, 73b, and the gussets 99a, 99b are folded over the remainder of the partially folded blank with the side panels 17a, 17b being folded along the respective fold lines 31a, 31b and the gussets 99a, 99b being folded along the respective fold lines 115a, 115b.
  • the central flaps 27a, 27b are brought into face-to-face contact with the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the respective handle panels 47a, 47b so that the glue lines G2 glue the central flaps 27a, 27b to the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the respective handle panels 47a, 47b.
  • the gussets 99a, 99b are brought into face-to-face contact with the respective bottom panels 91a, 91b so that the glue lines G3 glue the first gusset panels 101a, 101b to the respective bottom panels 91a, 91b.
  • the locking tabs 85 that are adjacent the cover flaps 73a, 73b can be at least partially connected to the cover flaps 73a, 73b by one or more nicks (not shown) interrupting the cut lines 87 so that the locking tabs 85 are folded along the fold lines 86 along with the cover flaps 73a, 73b.
  • any of the locking tabs 85 could be at least partially connected to the respective cover flaps 73a, 73b, 75a, 75b with nicks and/or any of the cut lines 87 could be tear lines.
  • glue lines G4 can be applied to the exterior surface 1 of the front central panel 41a, the front handle panel 47a, and the front central flap 27a and a glue line G5 is applied to the exterior surface 1 of the front bottom panel 91a, wherein the exterior surface of the front bottom panel 91a is the hidden side in the view of Fig. 2C.
  • the glue lines G4 could be applied to the exterior surface 1 of the back central panel 41b, the back handle panel 47b, and the back central flap 27b and/or the glue line G5 could be applied to the interior surface 2 of the back bottom panel 91b.
  • the collapsed carrier 5a can be formed as shown in Fig. 3, by folding the partially folded carrier of Fig. 2C along the centerline CL (e.g., along fold lines 45, 49) so that the front central flap 27a, the front central panel 41a, and the front handle panel 47a are in overlapping relationships with the respective back central flap 27b, back central panel 41b, and back handle panel 47b.
  • the front central flap 27a, the front central panel 41a, and the front handle panel 47b can be glued in face-to-face contact with to the respective back central flap 27b, back central panel 41b, and back handle panel 47b.
  • Fig. 3 As shown in Fig.
  • the collapsed carrier 5a further can be formed by folding the back bottom panel 91b along the fold line 123 so that the interior side 2 of the distal portion of the back bottom panel 91b is glued to exterior side 1 of the front bottom panel 91a by the glue line G5.
  • Any of the glue lines Gl, G2, G3, G4, G5 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured without departing from the disclosure.
  • the blank 3 could be otherwise folded to form the collapsed carrier 5a without departing from the disclosure.
  • the central flaps 27a, 27b are glued to the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the respective handle panels 47a, 47b by the glue lines G2 (Figs. 2B and 2C) and, when the partially folded carrier is folded along the centerline CL (Figs. 2C and 3), the central flaps 27a, 27b are glued together, the central panels 41a, 41b are glued together, and the handle panels 47a, 47b are glued together by glue lines G4.
  • each of the central flaps 27a, 27b can be considered to have a lower portion foldably connected to an upper portion along a respective fold line 127a, 127b (Fig. 1). As shown in Fig.
  • the fold lines 127a, 127b can be aligned with the respective fold lines 51a, 51b (and can at least partially overlap the respective cut lines 52a, 52b when the central flaps 27a, 27b are glued to the central panels 41a, 41b and the handle panels 47a, 47b. Accordingly, the lower portions of the central flaps 27a, 27b can be parts of the central wall 131 and the upper portions of the central flaps 27a, 27b can be parts of the handle wall 133 when the central wall 131 and the handle wall 133 are formed.
  • the bottom flaps 95a, 95b can be glued to the respective attachment flaps 119a, 119b of the central bottom panels 93a, 93b with glue lines G1 (Figs. 2A and 2B), the first gusset panels 101a, 101b can be glued to the respective front bottom panel 91a and back bottom panel 91b with glue lines G3 (Figs. 2B and 2C), and the back bottom panel 91b can be folded along the lateral fold line 123 and can be glued to the exterior surface of the front bottom panel 91a with the glue line G5 (Figs. 2C and 3).
  • the bottom panels 91a, 93a, 91b, 93b, the bottom flaps 95a, 95b, and the gussets 99a, 99b can cooperate to at least partially form a bottom wall 135 when the carton 5 is formed and erected.
  • the bottom wall 135 is foldably connected to each of the front panel 15a, the back panel 15b, the central wall 131, and the side panels 19a, 19b along fold lines 97a, 97b and to each of the side panels 17a, 17b along fold lines 117a, 117b to help retain items in the interior 137 of the carrier 5.
  • the central wall 131, the handle wall 133, and/or the bottom wall 135 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured without departing from the disclosure.
  • the folded carrier 5a can be further formed into the erected carrier 5 (e.g., manually and or by a packaging system).
  • the first side panels 17a, 17b and second side panels 19a, 19b can be positioned to be in a generally spaced-apart, parallel planar relationship
  • the front panel 15a and back panel 15b can be positioned to be in a generally spaced-apart, parallel planar relationship with the central wall 131 dividing the interior 137 of the carrier 5 into the front portion 9 and the back portion 11 (Figs. 4 and 5).
  • the front portion 9 can be closed by folding the front cover flaps 73a, 75a along the lateral fold line 35a over the open top of the front portion 9 (Fig. 4B).
  • the cuts 89 can form slots 139 (Fig. 4B) between the side panels 17a, 19a and the respective front cover flaps 73a, 75a for receiving the locking tabs 85. As shown in Fig.
  • the locking tabs 85 can be folded along the respective longitudinal fold lines 86 toward the handle wall 133 and the front cover panel 71a can be folded along the lateral fold line 35a over the front cover flaps 73a, 75a and the partially open top of the front portion 9.
  • the locking tabs 85 can be inserted into the respective slots 139 formed by the cuts 89 and the ends of the locking tabs 89 (e.g., where the locking tabs 89 separate from the cover panel 71a along the cuts 88) can at least partially engage the front cover flaps 73a, 75a adjacent the slots in the interior of the carrier to help retain the front cover panel 71a in the closed position.
  • the back cover flaps 73b, 75b and the back cover panel 71b can be closed in a similar or identical manner as the front cover panel and flaps.
  • the front cover panel 71a can overlap the front cover flaps 73a, 75a and can extend from the front panel 15a to the central wall 131 so that the front cover panel 71a and the front cover flaps 73a, 75a at least partially cover the front portion of the carrier 5. Further as shown in Figs.
  • the back cover panel 71b can overlap the back cover flaps 73b, 75b and can extend from the back panel 15b to the central wall 131 so that the back cover panel 71b and the back cover flaps 73b, 75b can at least partially cover the back portion of the carrier 5.
  • the closure of the top panels 71a, 71b and the cover flaps 73a, 75a, 73b, 75b and the locking engagement of the locking tabs 89 can facilitate the tamper resistance feature of the carrier 5.
  • the time required to open the top of the carrier 5 to access the contents makes it less likely that products in the carrier will be accessed unnoticed and less likely that the products will be removed and or engaged with prior to purchase.
  • the locking tabs 89 and or other features of the carrier 5 can be tom and/or creased when opening the top of the carrier so that an observer can see that the carrier has been opened.
  • the edges of the locking tabs 89 formed along the cuts 88 can abut the undersides of the front cover flaps 73a, 75a to resist removal of the locking tabs 89 from the slot 139, which can lead to tearing and/or creasing of the locking tabs 89 and or adjacent the slots 139 when the locking tabs 89 are forcibly removed from the slots 139.
  • the carrier 5 can help protect the personal health security of a consumer/costumer (e.g., the consumer can be assured that there has been limited contact with the products in the carrier or can observe the evidence that the package has been previously opened).
  • the closed carrier 5 can be stacked with other closed carriers 5 by folding the handle wall 133 from a vertical configuration (Fig. 5) either over the closed top of the front portion 9 or the back portion 11 of the carrier 5 to a folded configuration (e.g., Fig. 7).
  • the folding features 61 can facilitate folding of the handle wall 133 relative to the central wall 131. As shown in Figs.
  • segments of the fold line 51b connecting the handle panel 47b to the central panel 41b are aligned with the respective folding apertures 63 a in the central panel 41a and the handle panel 47a
  • segments of the fold line 51a connecting the handle panel 47a to the central panel 41a are aligned with the respective folding apertures 63b in the central panel 41b and the handle panel 47b when the central wall 131 and the handle wall 133 are formed by overlapping the central panel 41a and the handle panel 47a with the respective central panel 41b and the handle 47b.
  • the handle wall 133 can be folded over the back portion 11 of the carrier 5 (e.g., to at least partially overlap the back cover panel 71b) by folding the handle panels 47a, 47b along the lateral fold lines 51a, 51b.
  • the segments of the lateral fold line 51b and portions of the back central panel 41b and the back handle panel 47b connected along the segments on the inside of the fold can extend at least partially into respective front folding apertures 63a in the front central panel 41a and the front handle panel 47a on the outside of the fold to facilitate the folding of the overlapped and glued handle panels 47a, 47b (e.g., the handle wall 133).
  • the segments of the lateral fold line 51a and portions of the front central panel 41a and the front handle panel 47a connected along the segments on the outside of the fold can be at least partially received in the back folding apertures 63b on the inside of the fold as the segments of the fold line 51b extend through the front folding apertures 63a (Fig. 7).
  • the handle wall 133 folded against the back cover panel 71b e.g., as shown in Fig. 7
  • another carrier can be stacked on top of the carrier 5 in an exemplary embodiment.
  • the handle wall 133 could be folded over the front portion 9 of the carrier 5 in a similar manner.
  • the blank may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper.
  • the blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier or carton to function at least generally as described above.
  • the blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating.
  • the clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images.
  • the blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks.
  • the blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks.
  • the blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
  • a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features.
  • one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line.
  • the nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like.
  • a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.
  • 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 disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and or a series of cuts that extend partially into and or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.
  • the above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carrier embodiments.
  • glue is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carrier panels in place.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)

Abstract

A carrier for holding one or more products. The carrier can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel. A central panel can at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion. The side panel can extend at least partially from the front panel to the central panel. A lid can at least partially close a top of the carrier

Description

CARRIER WITH LID
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
63/028,631, filed on May 22, 2020.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
[0002] The disclosures of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/028,631, which was filed on May 22, 2020, and U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29/736,956, which was filed on June 4, 2020, are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to carriers or cartons for holding and or displaying products. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to basket-style carriers that may include tamper-resistant features.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0004] In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carrier for holding one or more products. The carrier can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel. A central panel can at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion. The side panel can extend at least partially from the front panel to the central panel. A lid can at least partially close a top of the carrier.
[0005] In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carrier for holding one or more products. The blank can comprise a plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel. A central panel can be for at least partially dividing the carrier formed from the blank into a front portion and a back portion. The side panel can be for extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel when the carrier is formed from the blank. A cover feature can be for at least partially closing a top of the carrier formed from the blank. [0006] In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of forming a carrier for holding one or more products. The method can comprise obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, a central panel, and a cover feature. The plurality of panels can comprise at least a front panel and a side panel. The method further can comprise forming an interior of the carrier by positioning the panels of the plurality of panels to extend at least partially around the interior of the carrier and positioning the central panel to at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion. The side panel can extend at least partially between the front panel and the central panel. Also, the method can comprise folding the cover feature to at least partially close a top of the carrier.
[0007] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures.
[0008] According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Fig. 1 is an exterior plan view of a blank used to form a carrier according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0010] Figs. 2A-2C are plan views showing the folding of the blank of Fig. 1 to form a folded construct according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0011] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construct in the form of a flattened carrier according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0012] Fig. 4A is a perspective view of an interior of an erected carrier formed from the flattened carrier of Fig. 3 according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0013] Fig. 4B is a perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 4A showing the closing of the top of the carrier according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure
[0014] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the erected carrier of Figs. 4A and 4B according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. [0015] Figs. 6A and 6B are views of folding features in the interior of the carrier of Fig. 5 according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0016] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 5 with the handle panel folded and a portion of the carrier broken away to show the folding features of Fig. 6 A according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.
[0017] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0018] The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, for holding and displaying products such as produce (e.g., fruits and/or vegetables), other suitable food items, and/or other suitable articles. Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate products of numerous different shapes. In this specification, the terms “inner,” “interior,” “outer,” “exterior,” “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” “front,” “forward,” “back,” “rear,” and “rearward” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers.
[0019] Fig. 1 is a plan view of an exterior side 1 of a blank 3 used to form a basket-style carrier 5 (Fig. 5) for holding products (not shown), in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the carrier 5 is configured to contain one or more products in a front portion of the carrier and one or more products in a back portion of the carrier. The carrier 5 can be sized and shaped to hold more or fewer products without departing from the disclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 5 includes a reinforced handle 7 (Figs. 4B, 5, and 7), which can include handle features 14 (Fig. 1) as described in more detail below. In one embodiment, the blank 3 and the carrier 5 can include front cover features 16a for forming a lid for closing the top of the front portion of the carrier 5 and back cover features 16b for forming a lid for closing the top of the back portion of the carrier 5 as described in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 5 is the erected carrier 5 of Figs. 4A-7 that receives the products. As shown in Fig. 3, the carrier 5 can be in a collapsed configuration, which can be referred to as a folded or collapsed carrier 5a in one embodiment.
[0020] In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier blank 3 has a longitudinal axis LI and a lateral or transverse axis L2 and has a front portion 9, a back portion 11, front bottom features 12a foldably connected to the front portion, and back bottom features 12b foldably connected to the back portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion 9 and back portion 11 are for being folded about a lateral centerline CL (Figs. 1 and 2C) when the carrier blank 3 is formed into the carrier. As discussed in more detail below, the carrier blank 3 is formed into the collapsed carrier 5a by folding the carrier blank 3 about the centerline CL so that the front portion 9 and the back portion 11 are generally overlapped (e.g., Fig. 3).
[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion 9, comprises a front panel 15a foldably connected to a first side panel 17a and a second side panel 19a. A front central flap 27a is foldably connected to the first side panel 17a at a longitudinal fold line 29a. Longitudinal fold lines 31a, 33a foldably connect the respective first and second side panel 17a, 19a to the front panel 15a. A lateral fold line 35a connects the front cover features 16a to the front panel 15a, the first side panel 17a, and the second side panel 19a. — In one embodiment, the front portion 9 includes a front central panel 41a foldably connected to the second side panel 19a along a longitudinal fold line 43a.
[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the features of the back portion 11 of the blank 3 include a back panel 15b, a first side panel 17b, a second side panel 19b, a back central flap 27b and a back central panel 41b that are generally a mirror-image of the corresponding panel or flap of the front portion 9. As shown in Fig. 1, the back central flap 27b and the front central flap 27a are foldably connected along a lateral fold line 45, which can be collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and/or substantially collinear) with the centerline CL. Corresponding components (e.g., panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, etc.) have been designated by corresponding reference numbers that differ by the “a” or “b” suffix, with the “a” components corresponding to the front portion 9 and the “b” components corresponding to the back portion 11 of the blank 3.
[0023] Any of the front portion 9, the back portion 11, the front and back panels 15a, 15b, the side panels 17a, 19a, 17b, 19b, the central flaps 27a, 27b, the central panels 41a, 41b, could be omitted or could be alternatively shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the present disclosure.
[0024] As shown in Fig. 1, the handle features 14 and the cover features 16a, 16b are generally disposed between the front and back portions 9, 11 in the blank 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle features 14 include a front handle panel 47a and a back handle panel 47b foldably connected to the front handle panel 47a along a lateral fold line or other line of weakening 49. In one embodiment, the lateral fold line 49 is collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and/or substantially collinear) with the centerline CL of the blank 3. The front handle panel 47a is foldably connected to the front central panel 41a along a lateral fold line 51a, and the back handle panel 47b is foldably connected to the back central panel 41b along a lateral fold line 51b. In one embodiment, the lateral fold lines 51a, 51b can be collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and/or substantially collinear) with the respective lateral fold lines 35a, 35b. The front handle panel 47a can include a front handle opening 53a and a front handle cushion flap 55a foldably connected to the front handle panel along a lateral fold line 57a adjacent the front handle opening 53a. The back handle panel 47b can include a back handle opening 53b and a back handle cushion flap 55b foldably connected to the back handle panel along a lateral fold line 57b adjacent the back handle opening 53b. The handle cushion flaps 55a, 55b can be separable from the respective central panels 41a, 41b along respective cuts 59.
[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, the blank 3 can include folding features 61 for facilitating folding of the handle panels 47a, 47b along the lateral fold lines 51a, 51b in the erected carton 5 (e.g., for stacking the carton 5 with other cartons 5) as described in more detail below. In the illustrated embodiment, the folding features 61 can include one or more folding apertures 63 a (e.g., three folding apertures 63a) extending in the front central panel 41a and or the front handle panel 47a, interrupting the lateral fold line 51a and one or more folding apertures 63b (e.g., four folding apertures 63b) extending in the back central panel 41b and or the back handle panel 47b, interrupting the lateral fold line 51b. In one embodiment, a cut line 52a can extend from an end of the lateral fold line 5 la to an edge of the blank 3 and a cut line 52b can extend from one of the folding apertures 63b or adjacent to one of the folding apertures 63b to the edge of the blank 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the folding apertures 63a and the folding apertures 63b are offset from one another (e.g., in the lateral direction L2) so that the folding apertures 63a are aligned (e.g., at least partially aligned, substantially aligned, and or generally aligned) along the longitudinal direction LI with respective portions or segments of the lateral fold line 51b extending between the folding apertures 63b and the folding apertures 63b are aligned (e.g., at least partially aligned, substantially aligned, and/or generally aligned) along the longitudinal direction LI with respective portions or segments of the lateral fold line 51a extending between the folding apertures 63 a. For example, the fold line 51a can have four segments aligned with the four folding apertures 63b, respectively, and the fold line 51b can have three segments aligned with the three folding apertures 63 a, respectively. Accordingly, when the carrier 5 is formed, the folding apertures 63a, 63b are aligned with the portions of the respective fold lines 51b, 51a (Figs. 6A and 6B) so that the portions of the lateral fold line 51a can extend at least partially into the respective folding apertures 63b or the portions of the lateral fold line 51b can extend at least partially into the respective folding apertures 63a when the handle panels 47a, 47b are folded relative to the central panels 41a, 41b in the formed carton 5 (Fig. 7) as described in more detail below. [0026] The handle features 14 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, the front cover features 16a can include a front top or cover panel 71a and front top or cover flaps 73a, 75a each foldably connected to the respective front panel 15a, first side panel 17a, and second side panel 19a along the lateral fold line 35a. Similarly, the back cover features 16b can include a back top or cover panel 71b and back top or cover flaps 73b, 75b each foldably connected to the respective back panel 15b, first side panel 17b, and second side panel 19b along the lateral fold line 35b. In one embodiment, the cover panels 71a, 71b can be separable from one another along a lateral cut line 77, which can be collinear (e.g., at least partially collinear, generally collinear, and or substantially collinear) with the centerline CL, the cover flaps 73a, 73b can be spaced apart from one another by a cutout 78, and the cover flaps 75a, 75b can be spaced apart from one another by a cutout 79. As shown in Fig. 1, the cover flaps 73a, 73b can be separable from the respective central flaps 27a, 27b along respective longitudinal cut lines 81 and the cover flaps 73a, 73b can be separable from the respective handle panels 47a, 47b along respective longitudinal cuts 83.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the cover features 16a, 16b can include locking tabs 85 foldably connected to the cover panels 71a, 71b along respective longitudinal fold lines 86. In one embodiment, the locking tabs 85 can be separable from the respective cover flaps 73 a, 73b, 75a, 75b along respective cut lines 87 and can be at least partially separable from the cover panels 71a, 71b along longitudinal cut lines or tear lines 88 extending on either side of the respective fold lines 86 (e.g., extending from respective ends of the respective fold lines 86). In one embodiment, portions of the cover flaps 73a, 75a, 73b, 75b can be separable from portions of the respective cover panels 71a, 71b along portions of the respective longitudinal cut lines 88. As shown in Fig. 1, the cover flaps 73a, 73b, 75a, 75b can be partially separable from the respective side panels 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b along respective cuts 89 for forming respective slots 139 (Figs. 4B and 5) that can at least partially receive the respective locking tabs 85 as described in more detail below. The cover features 16a, 16b could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured without departing from the disclosure.
[0029] As shown in Fig. 1, the front botom features 12a can include a front botom panel 91a foldably connected to the front panel 15a, a central botom panel 93 a foldably connected to the central panel 41a, and a botom flap 95a foldably connected to the second side panel 19a. In the illustrated embodiment, the front botom panel 91a, the central botom panel 93 a, and the botom flap 95a are foldably connected to the respective front panel 15a, central panel 41a, and second side panel 19a along a lateral fold line 97a. As shown in Fig. 1, the front botom panel 91a can be connected to the first side panel 17a by a gusset 99a, which can include a first gusset panel 101a foldably connected to a second gusset panel 103a along an oblique fold line 105a and an intermediate gusset panel 107a foldably connected to the first gusset panel 101a and the second gusset panel 103 a along respective oblique fold lines 109a, 111a. In one embodiment, the first gusset panel 101a can be separable from the second gusset panel 103a and the intermediate gusset panel 107a along a cut line 113a and an opening can extend along the gusset 99a, the front botom panel 91a, and the first side panel 17a. In the illustrated embodiment, the first gusset panel 101a can be foldably connected to the front botom panel 91a along a longitudinal fold line 115a and the second gusset panel 103a can be foldably connected to the first side panel 17a along a lateral fold line 117a. As shown in Fig. 1, the central botom panel 93 a can include an atachment flap 119a at least partially defined by an oblique fold line 121a.
[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the back botom features 12b can include a back botom panel 91b, a central botom panel 93b, and a botom flap 95b foldably connected to the respective back panel 15b, central panel 41b, and second side panel 19b along a lateral fold line 97b. As shown in Fig. 1, the back botom panel 91b can be connected to the first side panel 17b by a gusset 99b, which can include a first gusset panel 101b foldably connected to a second gusset panel 103b along an oblique fold line 105b and an intermediate gusset panel 107b foldably connected to the first gusset panel 101b and the second gusset panel 103b along respective oblique fold lines 109b, 111b. In one embodiment, the first gusset panel 101b can be separable from the second gusset panel 103b and the intermediate gusset panel 107b along a cut line 113b and an opening can extend along the gusset 99b, the back botom panel 91b, and the first side panel 17b. In the illustrated embodiment, the first gusset panel 101b can be foldably connected to the front botom panel 91b along a longitudinal fold line 115b and the second gusset panel 103b can be foldably connected to the first side panel 17b along a lateral fold line 117b. As shown in Fig. 1, the central botom panel 93b can include an attachment flap 119b at least partially defined by an oblique fold line 121b. In one embodiment, the back botom panel 91b can be larger than the front botom panel 91a, and the back botom panel 91b can include a lateral fold line 123.
[0031] Any of the botom features 12a, 12b could be omited or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
[0032] As shown in Fig. 1, the blank 3 can include a plurality of openings or cutouts 125 (e.g., decorative openings or windows) in the front panel 15a, the back panel 15b, any of the side panels 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b, and or in other portions of the blank 3 for displaying the products contained in the carton 5. Any of the cutouts 125 could be omited or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.
[0033] Any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured in the blank 3 without departing from the disclosure. The blank 3 could be sized and or shaped to accommodate any suitable size or number of products without departing from this disclosure.
[0034] With reference to Figs. 2A-3, in one exemplary method of erection, the collapsed carton 5a can be formed from the blank 3 by positioning the panels 15a, 15b, 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b, the central flaps 27a, 27b, the central panels 41a, 41b, the handle panels 47a, 47b, the bottom panels 91a, 91b, 93a, 93b, the bottom flaps 95a, 95b, and the gussets 99a, 99b relative to each other to form the front portion 9 and the back portion 11 and by folding along the centerline CL to form the collapsed carrier 5a (Fig. 3). As shown in Figs. 2A-2C, the glue strips or lines Gl, G2, G3, G4, G5 can be applied to different portions of the blank 3 or the partially-formed carrier during the folding of the blank to form the carrier such as by a folder/gluer system (not shown).
[0035] As shown in Fig. 2 A, the blank 3 is positioned with the interior side 2 facing up, and the central bottom panels 93a, 93b are folded along the respective fold lines 97a, 97b over the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the attachment flaps 119a, 119b are folded along the respective oblique fold lines 121a, 121b over the respective central bottom panels 93a, 93b. Further, as shown in Fig. 2A, the bottom flaps 95a, 95b are folded along the respective fold lines 97a, 97b over the respective side panels 19a, 19b and glue lines Gl are applied to the exterior side 1 of the bottom flaps 95a, 95b.
[0036] As shown in Fig. 2B, the central panels 41a, 41b and the handle panels 47a, 47b are folded over a remainder of the partially folded blank with the central panels 41a, 41b being folded along the fold lines 43a, 43b so that the handle panels 47a, 47b at least partially overlap the respective cover flaps 75a, 75b and the respective cover panels 71a, 71b and so that the central panels 41a, 41b at least partially overlap the respective side panels 19a, 19b and the respective front and back panels 15a, 15b. As the central panels 41a, 41b are folded, the attachment flaps 119a, 119b are brought into face-to-face contact with the respective bottom flaps 95a, 95b so that the glue lines Gl glue the interior side 2 of the attachment flaps 119a, 119b to the exterior side 1 of the respective bottom flaps 95a, 95b. Further, as shown in Fig. 2, glue lines G2 are applied along the exterior side 1 of the central panels 41a, 41b and the handle panels 47a, 47b and glue lines G3 are applied along the interior side 2 of the bottom panels 91a, 91b. [0037] As shown in Fig. 2C, the side panels 17a, 17b, the cover flaps 73a, 73b, and the gussets 99a, 99b are folded over the remainder of the partially folded blank with the side panels 17a, 17b being folded along the respective fold lines 31a, 31b and the gussets 99a, 99b being folded along the respective fold lines 115a, 115b. As the side panels 17a, 17b are folded, the central flaps 27a, 27b are brought into face-to-face contact with the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the respective handle panels 47a, 47b so that the glue lines G2 glue the central flaps 27a, 27b to the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the respective handle panels 47a, 47b. Additionally, as the side panels 17a, 17b are folded, the gussets 99a, 99b are brought into face-to-face contact with the respective bottom panels 91a, 91b so that the glue lines G3 glue the first gusset panels 101a, 101b to the respective bottom panels 91a, 91b. In one embodiment, the locking tabs 85 that are adjacent the cover flaps 73a, 73b can be at least partially connected to the cover flaps 73a, 73b by one or more nicks (not shown) interrupting the cut lines 87 so that the locking tabs 85 are folded along the fold lines 86 along with the cover flaps 73a, 73b. This can help keep the locking tabs 85 from protruding outwardly from the partially folded carrier and the collapsed carrier 5a. In other embodiments, any of the locking tabs 85 could be at least partially connected to the respective cover flaps 73a, 73b, 75a, 75b with nicks and/or any of the cut lines 87 could be tear lines. As shown in Fig. 2C, glue lines G4 can be applied to the exterior surface 1 of the front central panel 41a, the front handle panel 47a, and the front central flap 27a and a glue line G5 is applied to the exterior surface 1 of the front bottom panel 91a, wherein the exterior surface of the front bottom panel 91a is the hidden side in the view of Fig. 2C. Alternatively, or in addition, the glue lines G4 could be applied to the exterior surface 1 of the back central panel 41b, the back handle panel 47b, and the back central flap 27b and/or the glue line G5 could be applied to the interior surface 2 of the back bottom panel 91b.
[0038] In the exemplary embodiment, the collapsed carrier 5a can be formed as shown in Fig. 3, by folding the partially folded carrier of Fig. 2C along the centerline CL (e.g., along fold lines 45, 49) so that the front central flap 27a, the front central panel 41a, and the front handle panel 47a are in overlapping relationships with the respective back central flap 27b, back central panel 41b, and back handle panel 47b. In the illustrated embodiment, the front central flap 27a, the front central panel 41a, and the front handle panel 47b can be glued in face-to-face contact with to the respective back central flap 27b, back central panel 41b, and back handle panel 47b. As shown in Fig. 3, the collapsed carrier 5a further can be formed by folding the back bottom panel 91b along the fold line 123 so that the interior side 2 of the distal portion of the back bottom panel 91b is glued to exterior side 1 of the front bottom panel 91a by the glue line G5. Any of the glue lines Gl, G2, G3, G4, G5 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured without departing from the disclosure. Additionally, the blank 3 could be otherwise folded to form the collapsed carrier 5a without departing from the disclosure.
[0039] In one embodiment, the central flaps 27a, 27b are glued to the respective central panels 41a, 41b and the respective handle panels 47a, 47b by the glue lines G2 (Figs. 2B and 2C) and, when the partially folded carrier is folded along the centerline CL (Figs. 2C and 3), the central flaps 27a, 27b are glued together, the central panels 41a, 41b are glued together, and the handle panels 47a, 47b are glued together by glue lines G4. Accordingly, the central panels 41a, 41b and portions of the central flaps 27a, 27b cooperate to form a central wall 131, and the handle panels 47a, 47b and portions of the central flaps 27a, 27b cooperate to form the handle wall 133 extending upwardly from the central wall 131. In one embodiment, each of the central flaps 27a, 27b can be considered to have a lower portion foldably connected to an upper portion along a respective fold line 127a, 127b (Fig. 1). As shown in Fig. 2C, the fold lines 127a, 127b can be aligned with the respective fold lines 51a, 51b (and can at least partially overlap the respective cut lines 52a, 52b when the central flaps 27a, 27b are glued to the central panels 41a, 41b and the handle panels 47a, 47b. Accordingly, the lower portions of the central flaps 27a, 27b can be parts of the central wall 131 and the upper portions of the central flaps 27a, 27b can be parts of the handle wall 133 when the central wall 131 and the handle wall 133 are formed.
[0040] As described above, the bottom flaps 95a, 95b can be glued to the respective attachment flaps 119a, 119b of the central bottom panels 93a, 93b with glue lines G1 (Figs. 2A and 2B), the first gusset panels 101a, 101b can be glued to the respective front bottom panel 91a and back bottom panel 91b with glue lines G3 (Figs. 2B and 2C), and the back bottom panel 91b can be folded along the lateral fold line 123 and can be glued to the exterior surface of the front bottom panel 91a with the glue line G5 (Figs. 2C and 3). Accordingly, in one embodiment, the bottom panels 91a, 93a, 91b, 93b, the bottom flaps 95a, 95b, and the gussets 99a, 99b can cooperate to at least partially form a bottom wall 135 when the carton 5 is formed and erected. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 135 is foldably connected to each of the front panel 15a, the back panel 15b, the central wall 131, and the side panels 19a, 19b along fold lines 97a, 97b and to each of the side panels 17a, 17b along fold lines 117a, 117b to help retain items in the interior 137 of the carrier 5. The central wall 131, the handle wall 133, and/or the bottom wall 135 could be omitted or could be otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and or configured without departing from the disclosure.
[0041] As shown in Figs. 3-5, the folded carrier 5a can be further formed into the erected carrier 5 (e.g., manually and or by a packaging system). For example, the first side panels 17a, 17b and second side panels 19a, 19b can be positioned to be in a generally spaced-apart, parallel planar relationship, and the front panel 15a and back panel 15b can be positioned to be in a generally spaced-apart, parallel planar relationship with the central wall 131 dividing the interior 137 of the carrier 5 into the front portion 9 and the back portion 11 (Figs. 4 and 5). Such movement of the side panels 17a, 17b, 19a, 19b and front and back panels 15a, 15b, causes the back bottom panel 91b to fold at least partially flat across the bottom of the carrier 5 and causes the central bottom panels 93a, 93b and the bottom flaps 95a, 95b to fold down from the interior of the carrier to extend at least partially across the bottom (Fig. 4).
[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, once the carrier 5 is erected, one or more products can be loaded into the front portion 9 and/or the back portion 11 of the interior 137 and the cover features 16a, 16b can be closed (Fig. 5). In one embodiment, the front portion 9 can be closed by folding the front cover flaps 73a, 75a along the lateral fold line 35a over the open top of the front portion 9 (Fig. 4B). In the illustrated embodiment, the cuts 89 can form slots 139 (Fig. 4B) between the side panels 17a, 19a and the respective front cover flaps 73a, 75a for receiving the locking tabs 85. As shown in Fig. 4B, the locking tabs 85 can be folded along the respective longitudinal fold lines 86 toward the handle wall 133 and the front cover panel 71a can be folded along the lateral fold line 35a over the front cover flaps 73a, 75a and the partially open top of the front portion 9. As the front cover panel 71a is folded down, the locking tabs 85 can be inserted into the respective slots 139 formed by the cuts 89 and the ends of the locking tabs 89 (e.g., where the locking tabs 89 separate from the cover panel 71a along the cuts 88) can at least partially engage the front cover flaps 73a, 75a adjacent the slots in the interior of the carrier to help retain the front cover panel 71a in the closed position. In one embodiment, the back cover flaps 73b, 75b and the back cover panel 71b can be closed in a similar or identical manner as the front cover panel and flaps. As shown in Fig. 4B and 5, the front cover panel 71a can overlap the front cover flaps 73a, 75a and can extend from the front panel 15a to the central wall 131 so that the front cover panel 71a and the front cover flaps 73a, 75a at least partially cover the front portion of the carrier 5. Further as shown in Figs. 4B and 5, the back cover panel 71b can overlap the back cover flaps 73b, 75b and can extend from the back panel 15b to the central wall 131 so that the back cover panel 71b and the back cover flaps 73b, 75b can at least partially cover the back portion of the carrier 5.
[0043] In one embodiment, the closure of the top panels 71a, 71b and the cover flaps 73a, 75a, 73b, 75b and the locking engagement of the locking tabs 89 can facilitate the tamper resistance feature of the carrier 5. For example, the time required to open the top of the carrier 5 to access the contents makes it less likely that products in the carrier will be accessed unnoticed and less likely that the products will be removed and or engaged with prior to purchase. Also, in some embodiments, the locking tabs 89 and or other features of the carrier 5 can be tom and/or creased when opening the top of the carrier so that an observer can see that the carrier has been opened. For example, the edges of the locking tabs 89 formed along the cuts 88 (e.g., extending from the ends of the fold lines 86) can abut the undersides of the front cover flaps 73a, 75a to resist removal of the locking tabs 89 from the slot 139, which can lead to tearing and/or creasing of the locking tabs 89 and or adjacent the slots 139 when the locking tabs 89 are forcibly removed from the slots 139. Accordingly, the carrier 5 can help protect the personal health security of a consumer/costumer (e.g., the consumer can be assured that there has been limited contact with the products in the carrier or can observe the evidence that the package has been previously opened).
[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the closed carrier 5 can be stacked with other closed carriers 5 by folding the handle wall 133 from a vertical configuration (Fig. 5) either over the closed top of the front portion 9 or the back portion 11 of the carrier 5 to a folded configuration (e.g., Fig. 7). In an exemplary embodiment, the folding features 61 can facilitate folding of the handle wall 133 relative to the central wall 131. As shown in Figs. 6A and 6B, segments of the fold line 51b connecting the handle panel 47b to the central panel 41b are aligned with the respective folding apertures 63 a in the central panel 41a and the handle panel 47a, and segments of the fold line 51a connecting the handle panel 47a to the central panel 41a are aligned with the respective folding apertures 63b in the central panel 41b and the handle panel 47b when the central wall 131 and the handle wall 133 are formed by overlapping the central panel 41a and the handle panel 47a with the respective central panel 41b and the handle 47b. In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, the handle wall 133 can be folded over the back portion 11 of the carrier 5 (e.g., to at least partially overlap the back cover panel 71b) by folding the handle panels 47a, 47b along the lateral fold lines 51a, 51b. The segments of the lateral fold line 51b and portions of the back central panel 41b and the back handle panel 47b connected along the segments on the inside of the fold can extend at least partially into respective front folding apertures 63a in the front central panel 41a and the front handle panel 47a on the outside of the fold to facilitate the folding of the overlapped and glued handle panels 47a, 47b (e.g., the handle wall 133). In one embodiment, the segments of the lateral fold line 51a and portions of the front central panel 41a and the front handle panel 47a connected along the segments on the outside of the fold can be at least partially received in the back folding apertures 63b on the inside of the fold as the segments of the fold line 51b extend through the front folding apertures 63a (Fig. 7). With the handle wall 133 folded against the back cover panel 71b (e.g., as shown in Fig. 7), another carrier can be stacked on top of the carrier 5 in an exemplary embodiment. The handle wall 133 could be folded over the front portion 9 of the carrier 5 in a similar manner. [0045] Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can be combined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
[0046] In general, the blank may be constructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier or carton to function at least generally as described above. The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blanks. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.
[0047] As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or torn in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.
[0048] In accordance with the exemplaiy embodiments, 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 disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and or a series of cuts that extend partially into and or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold line to be a tear line.
[0049] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carrier embodiments. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carrier panels in place.
[0050] The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various exemplary embodiments. Various additions, modifications, changes, etc., could be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non- illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A carrier for holding one or more products, the carrier comprising: a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, the plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel; a central panel at least partially dividing the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion, the side panel extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel; and a lid at least partially closing a top of the carrier.
2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a cover panel foldably connected to the front panel and extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel to at least partially cover the front portion of the carrier.
3. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the lid further comprises a cover flap foldably connected to the side panel, and the cover panel at least partially overlaps the cover flap.
4. The carrier of claim 3, wherein the lid further comprises a locking tab foldably connected to the cover panel and a slot extending between the cover flap and the side panel, and the locking flap is at least partially inserted into the slot.
5. The carrier of claim 4, wherein the locking tab is foldably connected to the cover panel along a fold line, the locking tab has an edge extending from an end of the fold line, and the edge at least partially engages the cover flap adjacent the slot to resist removal of the locking tab from the slot.
6. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels comprises a second side panel extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel, the lid further comprises a first cover flap foldably connected to the first side panel a second cover flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and the cover panel at least partially overlaps the first cover flap and the second cover flap.
7. The carrier of claim 2, further comprising a central wall, a handle wall extending upwardly from the central wall, and a handle extending in the handle wall, wherein the central wall comprises at least the central panel.
8. The carrier of claim 2, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel, the cover panel is a front cover panel, and the lid further comprises a back cover panel foldably connected to the back panel and extending at least partially from the back panel to the central panel to at least partially cover the back portion of the carrier.
9. The carrier of claim 1, further comprising a central wall, a handle wall foldably connected to the central wall, and folding features that facilitate folding the handle wall from an upright configuration to a folded configuration, wherein the central wall comprises at least the central panel.
10. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the central panel is a front central panel, the central wall further comprises a back central panel in an overlapping relationship with the front central panel, the handle wall comprises a front handle panel in an overlapping relationship with a back handle panel, the front handle panel is foldably connected to the front central panel along a first fold line, and the back handle panel is foldably connected to the back central panel along a second fold line.
11. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the folding features comprise a plurality of folding apertures extending in at least one of the front central panel and the front handle panel, each folding aperture of the plurality of folding apertures is aligned with a respective segment of the second fold line so that the segments can be at least partially received through the respective folding apertures when the handle is in the folded configuration.
12. The carrier of claim 11, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel, the lid comprises a cover panel foldably connected to the back panel, the cover panel at least partially covers the back portion of the carrier, and the handle wall at least partially overlaps the cover panel when the handle wall is in the folded configuration.
13. The carrier of claim 10, wherein the folding features comprise a plurality of front folding apertures extending in at least one of the front central panel and the front handle panel and a plurality of back folding apertures extending in at least one of the back central panel and the back handle panel, each front folding aperture of the plurality of front folding apertures is aligned with a respective segment of the second fold line so that the segments can be at least partially received through the respective front folding apertures when the handle is in the folded configuration, and each back folding aperture of the plurality of back front folding apertures is aligned with a respective segment of the first fold line so that the segments can be at least partially received through the respective back folding apertures when the handle is in the folded configuration.
14. The carrier of claim 9, wherein the handle wall is folded over one of the back portion and the front portion of the carrier in the folded configuration.
15. The carrier of claim 9, further comprising a handle opening extending in the handle wall.
16. A blank for forming a carrier for holding one or more products, the blank comprising: a plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel; a central panel for at least partially dividing the carrier formed from the blank into a front portion and a back portion, the side panel being for extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel when the carrier is formed from the blank; and a cover feature for at least partially closing a top of the carrier formed from the blank.
17. The blank of claim 16, wherein the cover feature comprises a cover panel foldably connected to the front panel, the cover panel being for extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel to at least partially cover the front portion of the carrier formed from the blank.
18. The blank of claim 17, wherein the cover feature further comprises a cover flap foldably connected to the side panel, the cover panel being for at least partially overlapping the cover flap when the carrier is formed from the blank.
19. The blank of claim 18, wherein the cover feature further comprises a locking tab foldably connected to the cover panel, the cover flap is at least partially separable from the side panel along a cut, and the cut is for forming a slot for at least partially receiving the locking tab when the carrier is formed from the blank.
20. The blank of claim 19, wherein the locking tab is separable from the cover flap along a cut line.
21. The blank of claim 17, wherein the side panel is a first side panel, the plurality of panels comprises a second side panel for extending at least partially from the front panel to the central panel when the carrier is formed from the blank, the cover feature further comprises a first cover flap foldably connected to the first side panel and a second cover flap foldably connected to the second side panel, and the first cover flap and the second cover flap are separable from the cover panel along respective cut lines.
22. The blank of claim 17, wherein the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel, the cover panel is a front cover panel, the cover feature further comprises a back cover panel foldably connected to the back panel, and the front cover panel is separable from the back cover panel along a cut line.
23. The blank of claim 17, wherein the side panel is a front side panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a back panel and a back side panel, the cover panel is a front cover panel, the cover feature further comprises a back cover panel foldably connected to the back panel, a front cover flap foldably connected to the front side panel, and a back cover flap foldably connected to the back side panel, the front cover panel and the back cover panel extend between at least the front panel and the back panel in the blank, and the front cover flap and the back cover flap extend between at least the front side panel and the back side panel in the blank.
24. The blank of claim 16, further comprising a handle panel foldably connected to the central panel, wherein the central panel is for at least partially forming a central wall when the carrier is formed from the blank, the handle panel is for at least partially forming a handle wall when the carrier is formed from the blank, and the blank further comprises folding features in at least one of the handle panel and the central panel for facilitating folding the handle wall from an upright configuration to a folded configuration when the carrier is formed from the blank.
25. The blank of claim 24, wherein the central panel is a front central panel, the handle panel is a front handle panel, the front central panel is foldably connected to the front handle panel along a first fold line, the blank further comprises a back central panel foldably connected to a back handle panel along a second fold line, and the front central panel and the front handle panel are for being in an overlapping relationship with the respective back central panel and back handle panel to form the respective central wall and handle wall when the carrier is formed from the blank.
26. The blank of claim 25, wherein the folding features comprise a plurality of folding apertures extending in at least one of the front central panel and the front handle panel, each folding aperture of the plurality of folding apertures is aligned with a respective segment of the second fold line along a longitudinal direction of the blank.
27. The blank of claim 25, wherein the folding features comprise a plurality of front folding apertures extending in at least one of the front central panel and the front handle panel and a plurality of back folding apertures extending in at least one of the back central panel and the back handle panel, each front folding aperture of the plurality of front folding apertures is aligned with a respective segment of the second fold line along a longitudinal direction of the blank, and each back folding aperture of the plurality of back front folding apertures is aligned with a respective segment of the first fold line along the longitudinal direction of the blank.
28. The blank of claim 27, wherein each of the back folding apertures is offset from the front folding apertures along a lateral direction of the blank.
29. The blank of claim 24, further comprising a handle opening extending in the handle panel.
30. A method of forming a carrier for holding one or more products, the method comprising: obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels, a central panel, and a cover feature, the plurality of panels comprising at least a front panel and a side panel; and forming an interior of the carrier by positioning the panels of the plurality of panels to extend at least partially around the interior of the carrier and positioning the central panel to at least partially divide the interior of the carrier into a front portion and a back portion, the side panel extending at least partially between the front panel and the central panel; and folding the cover feature to at least partially close a top of the carrier.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the cover feature comprises a cover panel foldably connected to the front panel, and the folding the cover feature comprises folding the cover panel to extend at least partially from the front panel to the central panel to at least partially cover the front portion of the carrier.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the cover feature further comprises a cover flap foldably connected to the side panel, the folding the cover feature further comprises folding the cover flap over the front portion of the carrier, and the folding the cover panel comprises positioning the cover panel to at least partially overlap the cover flap.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the cover feature further comprises a locking tab foldably connected to the cover panel, the cover flap is at least partially separable from the side panel along a cut, and the folding the cover flap forms the cut into a slot, and the method further comprises at least partially inserting the locking tab into the slot during the folding the cover panel.
34. The method of claim 30, wherein the central panel is a front central panel, the blank further comprises a back central panel, a front handle panel foldably connected to the front central panel along a first fold line, and a back handle panel foldably connected to the back central panel along a second fold line, the method further comprises positioning the front central panel and the back central panel into an overlapping relationship to form a central wall and positioning the front handle panel and the back handle panel into an overlapping relationship to form a handle wall, and the blank further comprises folding features that facilitate folding the handle wall from an upright configuration to a folded configuration.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the folding features comprise a plurality of folding apertures extending in at least one of the front central panel and the front handle panel, each folding aperture of the plurality of folding apertures is aligned with a respective segment of the second fold line so that the segments can be at least partially received through the respective folding apertures when the handle is in the folded configuration.
PCT/US2021/033059 2020-05-22 2021-05-19 Carrier with lid WO2021236708A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
MX2022014467A MX2022014467A (en) 2020-05-22 2021-05-19 Carrier with lid.
EP21809571.9A EP4153503A4 (en) 2020-05-22 2021-05-19 Carrier with lid
CA3180955A CA3180955A1 (en) 2020-05-22 2021-05-19 Carrier with lid

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US202063028631P 2020-05-22 2020-05-22
US63/028,631 2020-05-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2021236708A1 true WO2021236708A1 (en) 2021-11-25

Family

ID=78607804

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2021/033059 WO2021236708A1 (en) 2020-05-22 2021-05-19 Carrier with lid

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US11548708B2 (en)
EP (1) EP4153503A4 (en)
CA (1) CA3180955A1 (en)
MX (1) MX2022014467A (en)
WO (1) WO2021236708A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA3180955A1 (en) 2020-05-22 2021-11-25 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier with lid
USD972942S1 (en) * 2020-06-04 2022-12-20 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier with lid

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070194092A1 (en) * 2006-02-20 2007-08-23 Brian Donnelly Disposable carry-out food container
US20090121001A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2009-05-14 Felix Miquel Perez Basket
JP2010265027A (en) * 2009-05-18 2010-11-25 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Carrier and blank
CN204236871U (en) * 2014-11-25 2015-04-01 天津商业大学 A kind of four basket type packing boxes
KR102103278B1 (en) * 2018-12-19 2020-04-22 고문당인쇄(주) Split type package

Family Cites Families (241)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2899104A (en) 1959-08-11 Band type can carrier
GB199609A (en) 1922-07-03 1923-06-28 Carl Callebaut Improvements in dyeing machines
US2222211A (en) 1938-04-28 1940-11-19 Arneson Edwin Lewis Bottle holder
US2227330A (en) 1938-05-11 1940-12-31 O B Andrews Company Short wall carrier
US2331312A (en) 1938-06-18 1943-10-12 Fed Carton Corp Carrying carton for bottles
US2225822A (en) 1938-07-27 1940-12-24 Crook Paper Box Company Bottle display carrier
US2336857A (en) 1938-08-17 1943-12-14 F N Burt Company Inc Carry-home bottle container
US2268209A (en) 1938-08-25 1941-12-30 Fibreboard Products Inc Bottle carrier
US2318807A (en) * 1940-04-24 1943-05-11 Jr Julian B Slevin Carrier for bottles and the like
US2304683A (en) 1940-07-31 1942-12-08 Cons Paper Company Hamper manufacture
US2371471A (en) 1943-04-07 1945-03-13 Old Fashion Ma S Root Beer Bot Bottle carrier
US2395711A (en) 1945-01-05 1946-02-26 Arnold Bernard Collapsible bottle carrier
US2457308A (en) 1945-11-09 1948-12-28 Empire Box Corp Bottle carrier
US2563065A (en) 1946-06-22 1951-08-07 Reynolds Metals Co Bottle carrier
US2460108A (en) 1946-08-31 1949-01-25 Schmidt & Sons Inc C Collapsible carrier
US2565449A (en) 1948-01-08 1951-08-21 Morris Paper Mills Bottle carrier
US2689061A (en) 1948-12-04 1954-09-14 Harry Z Gray Bottle carrier
US2660361A (en) 1950-08-08 1953-11-24 Robertson Paper Box Company In Partitioned carton
US2691471A (en) 1950-08-22 1954-10-12 Atlanta Paper Company Paperboard box structure
US2606711A (en) 1950-09-15 1952-08-12 Atlanta Paper Company Compartmental folded paperboard carrier with handle
US2637480A (en) 1950-10-02 1953-05-05 Atlanta Paper Company Paperboard carrier
US2701661A (en) 1951-11-30 1955-02-08 Rapid Rap Inc Carrier for canned or bottled goods
US2772020A (en) 1952-08-30 1956-11-27 Gardner Board & Carton Co Partitioned bottle carrier
US2688421A (en) 1953-04-13 1954-09-07 Atlanta Paper Company Compartmented carton
US2721001A (en) 1953-05-20 1955-10-18 Eastern Box Company Bottle carrier
US2783916A (en) 1953-10-23 1957-03-05 Chicago Carton Co Carrying carton
US2776072A (en) 1954-03-24 1957-01-01 Atlanta Paper Company Bottle carrier handle structure
US2785846A (en) 1955-01-19 1957-03-19 Pizor Container Corp Can carrying carton
US2808177A (en) 1955-09-30 1957-10-01 Sutherland Paper Co Collapsible multiple compartment carton
US2812105A (en) 1956-03-09 1957-11-05 Container Corp Paperboard blank and can carrier formed therefrom
US2790590A (en) 1956-05-04 1957-04-30 New Haven Board & Carton Compa Can carriers
US2917202A (en) 1956-10-10 1959-12-15 Mead Packaging Inc Four-cell compartmented carton
US2963198A (en) 1956-11-16 1960-12-06 Container Corp Band type can carrier
US2838223A (en) 1956-12-28 1958-06-10 Container Corp Can carrier
GB926874A (en) 1958-08-26 1963-05-22 Waddington Ltd J Improvements relating to carrier cartons
US2993619A (en) 1959-09-16 1961-07-25 Fed Paper Board Co Inc Article carrier
US2991908A (en) 1960-04-14 1961-07-11 Conescu Sidney Bottle carrier
US3053411A (en) 1960-10-28 1962-09-11 Diamond National Corp Bottle carrier
US3029977A (en) 1961-05-22 1962-04-17 Fed Paper Board Co Inc Article carrier
US3194478A (en) 1961-08-01 1965-07-13 Continental Can Co Two-ply separator for bottle carriers
US3140036A (en) 1961-10-17 1964-07-07 Joseph C Spery Wrapper type can carrier
US3313466A (en) 1962-12-17 1967-04-11 Mead Corp Reinforced container structures
US3191800A (en) 1963-04-02 1965-06-29 Mead Corp Bottle carriers
US3128906A (en) 1963-04-05 1964-04-14 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3190487A (en) 1963-07-29 1965-06-22 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3236414A (en) 1963-12-10 1966-02-22 Julian B Slevin Company Inc Bottle carrier
US3229849A (en) 1964-01-23 1966-01-18 Cons Packaging Corp Compartmented article carrier
US3352452A (en) 1965-07-06 1967-11-14 Olinkraft Inc Bottle carrier
US3343742A (en) 1965-12-13 1967-09-26 Siegler Lawrence Partition
US3432073A (en) 1967-05-05 1969-03-11 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3554401A (en) 1969-02-04 1971-01-12 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3780906A (en) 1969-09-05 1973-12-25 Continental Can Co Cup carrier
US3669306A (en) 1969-12-02 1972-06-13 Mead Corp Article carrier having improved partition structure
US3672539A (en) 1969-12-03 1972-06-27 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3651982A (en) 1970-03-05 1972-03-28 Julian B Slevin Bottle carrier
US3624790A (en) 1970-07-06 1971-11-30 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3721335A (en) 1970-08-24 1973-03-20 Brown & Williamson Tobacco Cigarette carton with pack separator
US3661297A (en) 1970-12-21 1972-05-09 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3760978A (en) * 1971-02-19 1973-09-25 Schovee J Multi-container carrier carton
US3722738A (en) 1971-03-04 1973-03-27 Zumbiel Co Beverage bottle carrier
US3709400A (en) 1971-06-23 1973-01-09 Federal Paper Board Co Inc Article carrier
US3754680A (en) 1971-11-15 1973-08-28 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3739940A (en) 1972-02-01 1973-06-19 Olinkraft Inc Longitudinal stabilizer tab for basket-style carriers
US3784053A (en) 1972-04-17 1974-01-08 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3757991A (en) 1972-05-22 1973-09-11 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3860113A (en) 1972-06-26 1975-01-14 Container Corp Carrier having reinforced handle member
US3893565A (en) 1972-10-16 1975-07-08 Federal Paper Board Co Inc Bottle Carrier
US3917059A (en) 1973-10-31 1975-11-04 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3917060A (en) 1974-07-22 1975-11-04 Mead Corp Article carrier
US3917061A (en) 1974-09-25 1975-11-04 Mead Corp Heavy duty article carrier
US4000813A (en) 1975-11-07 1977-01-04 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4010847A (en) 1975-12-19 1977-03-08 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4029205A (en) 1976-06-28 1977-06-14 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4171046A (en) 1978-02-13 1979-10-16 Alton Box Board Company Multi-celled container carrier
US4201322A (en) 1978-04-18 1980-05-06 Polycarrier Company Bottle carrier
US4153158A (en) 1978-06-30 1979-05-08 Olinkraft, Inc. Twelve-article basket carrier
US4207978A (en) 1979-03-05 1980-06-17 Paragon Candles, Inc. Display package for tapered candles
US4187944A (en) 1979-03-19 1980-02-12 The Mead Corporation Article carrier and blank therefor
US4217983A (en) 1979-03-30 1980-08-19 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4243138A (en) 1979-04-10 1981-01-06 Olinkraft, Inc. Three-piece foldable basket carrier and blank for forming the same
US4205748A (en) 1979-04-10 1980-06-03 Johns-Manville Corporation Two-piece foldable basket carrier and blank for forming the same
US4253564A (en) 1979-05-21 1981-03-03 Federal Paper Board Co., Inc. Bottle carrier
US4250992A (en) 1979-08-02 1981-02-17 Westvaco Corporation Returnable beverage carrier
USD261944S (en) 1979-08-30 1981-11-17 Pack Image, Inc. Carrier for bottles or the like
USD262525S (en) 1979-11-29 1982-01-05 Johns-Manville Corporation Carrier blank
US4413729A (en) 1980-03-07 1983-11-08 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4319682A (en) 1980-03-28 1982-03-16 The C. W. Zumbiel Company Compliance carrier
US4318470A (en) 1980-04-04 1982-03-09 Champion International Corporation Carton with cells and blank for forming same
US4308950A (en) 1980-05-19 1982-01-05 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4509640A (en) 1980-05-28 1985-04-09 Joyce Michael F Carton with separaters, its blank and apparatus facilitating its erection for use
US4482055A (en) 1980-10-14 1984-11-13 Champion International Corporation Integral carton blank for a carton with four cells and carton
US4362240A (en) 1981-03-16 1982-12-07 Pacific Paperboard Products, Inc. Article carrier carton
US4375846A (en) 1981-04-22 1983-03-08 Container Corporation Of America Container
US4450956A (en) 1981-08-28 1984-05-29 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4377252A (en) 1981-09-08 1983-03-22 Champion International Corporation Convertible eight-cell carton
US4406365A (en) 1981-09-14 1983-09-27 Federal Paper Board Co., Inc. Basket type bottle carrier
US4374561A (en) 1981-10-13 1983-02-22 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4770294A (en) 1982-02-18 1988-09-13 Manville Service Corporation Two-piece beverage carrier
US4469222A (en) 1982-02-18 1984-09-04 Manville Service Corporation Two-piece beverage carrier
US4480746A (en) 1984-04-03 1984-11-06 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4544092A (en) 1984-09-10 1985-10-01 Rock-Tenn Company Cross partition interlock using enlarged tab
US5052552A (en) 1985-05-02 1991-10-01 James River-Norwalk, Inc. Foldable carrier for a plurality of containers
US4610349A (en) 1985-05-14 1986-09-09 Wagner Folding Box Corp. Four-pack bottle carrier
US4591090A (en) 1985-07-26 1986-05-27 Sonoco Products Company Carton divider with partition interlock
US4722437A (en) 1986-02-18 1988-02-02 Adolph Coors Company Package alignment system
US4782943A (en) 1986-12-11 1988-11-08 Federal Paper Board Co., Inc. Basket-like carrier for cups and the like and blank for forming the same
US4782944A (en) 1987-03-11 1988-11-08 Federal Paper Board, Inc. Multi-cellular carrier
US4792038A (en) 1987-11-30 1988-12-20 Manville Corporation Basket-type carrier for articles of various sizes
US4927009A (en) 1989-04-27 1990-05-22 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US4989779A (en) * 1989-08-23 1991-02-05 Minnesota Automation, Inc. Bottom lock arrangement for cartons
DE9004439U1 (en) 1990-04-18 1990-06-21 Europa Carton Ag, 2000 Hamburg Bottle carrier
US5029698A (en) 1990-08-29 1991-07-09 The Mead Corporation Basket-style article carrier having handle interlocking elements
US5072876A (en) 1990-10-30 1991-12-17 Riverwood International Corporation Article carrier with side handles
US5040672A (en) 1990-12-20 1991-08-20 The Mead Corporation Article carrier and blank therefor
US5161732A (en) 1991-04-29 1992-11-10 Accurate Rolal Co. Limited Fold-out carton and blank therefor
US5123588A (en) 1991-09-04 1992-06-23 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with handle and divider cells
US5191976A (en) 1991-12-03 1993-03-09 The Mead Corporation Basket carrier with webbed reinforced bottom
US5167325A (en) 1991-12-09 1992-12-01 Field Container Company, L.P. Carrier for containers
US5246113A (en) 1992-02-11 1993-09-21 Riverwood International Corporation Carrier for stacked articles
US5282348A (en) 1992-06-16 1994-02-01 Riverwood International Corporation Clip-type article carrier and method of manufacture
US5234103A (en) 1992-08-21 1993-08-10 Riverwood International Corporation Enclosed basket-style carrier
US5359830A (en) 1992-09-11 1994-11-01 Riverwood International Corporation Clip-type article carrier packaging mechanism
US5482203A (en) 1993-09-03 1996-01-09 The Mead Corporation Handle reinforcement for a carton
US5344066A (en) * 1993-09-29 1994-09-06 Riverwood International Corporation Carton with reclosable corner pour openings
US5341984A (en) * 1993-09-29 1994-08-30 Riverwood International Corporation Carton with reclosable side pour opening
US5439110A (en) 1994-06-16 1995-08-08 Riverwood International Corporation Two-tiered article package
TW304502U (en) 1994-06-16 1997-05-01 Riverwood Int Corp Basket-style carrier with retainer tabs
US5400901A (en) 1994-06-16 1995-03-28 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with removable handle
US5484053A (en) 1994-06-22 1996-01-16 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style clip carrier
US5458234A (en) 1994-09-21 1995-10-17 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style article carrier
US5499712A (en) 1994-10-20 1996-03-19 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with non-collapsing end panels
US5547074A (en) 1994-10-21 1996-08-20 The Mead Corporation Article carrier
US5979747A (en) * 1994-12-07 1999-11-09 Lever Brothers Company Carrier for packages
US5531319A (en) 1995-02-21 1996-07-02 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style article carrier with a single integral partition
US5538130A (en) 1995-02-21 1996-07-23 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with dividing strap
US5538131A (en) 1995-02-21 1996-07-23 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style article carrier with improved partition layout
US5518110A (en) 1995-07-12 1996-05-21 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with end panel lock
US5611425A (en) 1995-07-28 1997-03-18 The Mead Corporation Lock for basket sytle carrier
CA2227974C (en) 1995-07-28 2003-04-01 The Mead Corporation Basket-style carrier
US5715992A (en) * 1995-09-26 1998-02-10 J & M Coffee Container Company, Inc. Beverage container
US5593027A (en) 1995-10-10 1997-01-14 Riverwood International Corporation Carrier with preformed end panels
US5649620A (en) 1995-12-11 1997-07-22 Riverwood International Corporation Basket carrier with squaring tabs
US5657865A (en) 1995-12-11 1997-08-19 Riverwood International Corporation Reinforced basket-style carrier
US5638956A (en) 1995-12-11 1997-06-17 Riverwood International Corporation Wrap-around carrier with lock-box keel
US5657864A (en) 1995-12-11 1997-08-19 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with open article-viewing areas
US5682982A (en) 1996-02-26 1997-11-04 Field Container Company, L.P. Bottle carrier
US5695051A (en) 1996-03-01 1997-12-09 Jefferson Smurfit Corporation Composite carrier carton
US5645162A (en) 1996-03-28 1997-07-08 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with automatic bottom and reinforced handle
US5680930A (en) 1996-04-09 1997-10-28 Tenneco Packaging Two-piece, crash-bottom basket carrier
US5620094A (en) 1996-05-21 1997-04-15 Riverwood International Corporation Wrap-around carrier with top divider tab
US5871090A (en) 1996-06-26 1999-02-16 Kraft Foods, Inc. Carrier tray and blank thereof
US5884756A (en) 1996-07-22 1999-03-23 The Mead Corporation Basket-style carrier
US5709298A (en) 1996-07-25 1998-01-20 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with non-collapsing end panels
GB9616122D0 (en) 1996-08-01 1996-09-11 Riverwood Int Corp Container for articles
US5947273A (en) 1996-10-07 1999-09-07 Malnove Of Nebraska, Inc. Beverage basket carrier
US6003665A (en) 1996-11-01 1999-12-21 The Mead Corporation Basket style article carrier with tapered end panels and separator straps
US5775487A (en) 1996-12-19 1998-07-07 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with reinforced handle
US5765685A (en) 1997-06-10 1998-06-16 Riverwood International Corporation Carrier with article retaining means
GB9713947D0 (en) 1997-07-02 1997-09-03 Mead Corp Article carrier
US5941377A (en) 1997-10-27 1999-08-24 Jefferson Smurfit Corporation Beverage carrier with separate partitions
US5848695A (en) 1997-08-07 1998-12-15 Riverwood International Corporation Side-loading basket carrier
US5855316A (en) 1997-08-07 1999-01-05 Riverwood International Corporation Two-piece basket carrier
US5878877A (en) 1997-10-16 1999-03-09 Sutherland; Robert L. Basket carrier with rounded corners
US5819920A (en) 1997-10-16 1998-10-13 Riverwood International Corporation Basket-style carrier with cutouts
US6315111B1 (en) 1997-11-13 2001-11-13 Riverwood International Corporation Basket carrier with top panel
DE29810883U1 (en) 1997-11-17 1999-03-25 FCP Europa Carton Faltschachtel GmbH, 20095 Hamburg Container carrier
US6024212A (en) 1998-12-09 2000-02-15 Dopaco, Inc. Cup carrier
US6105773A (en) 1999-01-26 2000-08-22 The C. W. Zumbiel Co. Carton carrier
US6112977A (en) 1999-02-03 2000-09-05 Riverwood International Corporation Bottle carrier with dividers
US6168013B1 (en) 1999-03-11 2001-01-02 Riverwood International Corporation Compact basket-style carrier blank
US6230881B1 (en) 1999-04-09 2001-05-15 Peter C. Collura Bottle carrier
US20020077236A1 (en) 1999-06-28 2002-06-20 Eric Chalendar Article aligning apparatus and method therefor
US6247585B1 (en) 1999-09-01 2001-06-19 The Mead Corporation Basket-style carrier having center cell partitioning tabs
US6230882B1 (en) 1999-09-08 2001-05-15 Rock-Tenn Company Carrier for drink cups
US6336584B1 (en) * 2000-07-07 2002-01-08 Roch Francois Multiple use carton box
US6341689B1 (en) 2000-09-15 2002-01-29 Riverwood International Corporation Basket carrier with partition panels attached to end flaps
US6321906B1 (en) 2000-09-28 2001-11-27 Sam Wein Quad-cell and six-cell carrier carton with 2-ply seal end bottom and method of making same
US6371287B1 (en) 2000-10-03 2002-04-16 Riverwood International Corporation Full protection basket carriers and method of forming
US6571941B2 (en) 2001-02-27 2003-06-03 The Mead Corporation Basket-style article carrier having reinforced handle joints and carrier blank therefor
FR2825074B1 (en) 2001-05-25 2003-10-31 Smurfit Socar Sa PORTABLE PACKAGING FOR BOTTLES EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST ONE LOCKING BODY IN POSITION OF THESE BOTTLES
US6837420B2 (en) * 2001-11-16 2005-01-04 Wes Pak, Inc. Foldable portable cooler with enhanced over-center locking handle
ES2243665T3 (en) 2001-12-15 2005-12-01 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. BASKET TYPE CONTAINER.
US7011209B2 (en) 2001-12-19 2006-03-14 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Bottle carrier with improved carrying handle
US6695137B2 (en) 2002-02-22 2004-02-24 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Basket handle
US7134547B2 (en) 2002-02-27 2006-11-14 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc Basket carrier for bottles and blank therefor
GB0206565D0 (en) 2002-03-20 2002-05-01 Mead Corp Basket carrier for bottles and blank therefor
US6802802B2 (en) 2002-05-17 2004-10-12 Usi International, Inc. Beverage carrier
KR100691920B1 (en) 2002-06-26 2007-03-09 미드웨스트바코 패키징 시스템즈 엘엘씨 Carton, carton blank, package and method for set-up of carton from carton blank
USD477530S1 (en) 2002-07-16 2003-07-22 Von Braun Peter Carrier and candles (4-pack)
US7185758B2 (en) 2002-08-09 2007-03-06 Ez Media Inc. Food carrier and method
US7753195B2 (en) 2002-08-09 2010-07-13 SJV Food & Beverage Carriers, Inc. Carrier and method
US7438181B2 (en) 2002-08-09 2008-10-21 E-Z Media, Inc. Carrier and method
US7913837B2 (en) * 2002-08-09 2011-03-29 SJV Food & Beverage Carriers, Inc. Carrier and method
US6736260B2 (en) 2002-08-14 2004-05-18 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Neck-through the top carton
US6938756B2 (en) 2002-09-18 2005-09-06 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Three piece basket carrier
US6814228B2 (en) 2002-10-10 2004-11-09 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Wrap around carrier for petaloid pet bottles
USD484011S1 (en) 2003-01-07 2003-12-23 Progressive Speciality Glass Co., Inc. Beverage carrier
US20060157545A1 (en) 2003-06-10 2006-07-20 Jean-Michel Auclair Returnable carton for bottles
US7195118B2 (en) 2004-01-30 2007-03-27 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Beveled corner carton with an interlocking separator pad
US7128206B2 (en) 2004-04-20 2006-10-31 Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation Three piece beverage carrier
CA2576058A1 (en) 2004-08-04 2006-02-16 John M. Holley, Jr. Two piece carton
EP1852359A3 (en) 2004-08-04 2007-11-14 MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems LLC Two piece carton
GB0417747D0 (en) 2004-08-10 2004-09-08 Graphic Packaging Int Inc Containers for articles
WO2006113824A1 (en) 2005-04-18 2006-10-26 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Llc Stackable basket-style article carrier with ergonomic side handle
US7743969B2 (en) 2005-05-31 2010-06-29 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc Carton with upright handle and multi-ply reinforced top wall
US7617969B2 (en) 2005-06-30 2009-11-17 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carton capable of carrying take-out food and beverages
US7448492B2 (en) 2005-07-22 2008-11-11 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carrier package and blank
ATE466783T1 (en) 2005-07-22 2010-05-15 Graphic Packaging Int Inc COVER STRAPS AND CUTTING
US7374038B2 (en) 2005-08-03 2008-05-20 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carton with container access openings with at least partially removable tabs
GB0517101D0 (en) 2005-08-19 2005-09-28 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems Reinforced carton handle structure
US7472791B2 (en) 2005-08-19 2009-01-06 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carrier with handle flaps for obstructing view
JP2009523661A (en) 2006-01-12 2009-06-25 グラフィック パッケージング インターナショナル インコーポレイテッド Transport package
US7552820B2 (en) 2006-04-10 2009-06-30 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Blanks and methods for forming a beverage carrier from the blanks
WO2007120916A2 (en) 2006-04-17 2007-10-25 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carrier packages and methods of erecting carrier packages
USD567079S1 (en) 2006-05-04 2008-04-22 The Coca - Cola Company Carton
EP2032465B1 (en) 2006-06-23 2012-08-08 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carrier for containers
ATE479605T1 (en) 2007-01-12 2010-09-15 Graphic Packaging Int Inc BASKET RACK WITH OPEN TOP BASKET AND LID
US8020695B2 (en) 2007-01-23 2011-09-20 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Basket carrier
USD567469S1 (en) 2007-04-06 2008-04-22 Duran-Dogan Basim Ve Ambalaj Sanayi Anonim Sirketi Combined wheeled carrier and folding seat
US8413809B2 (en) 2008-05-02 2013-04-09 Certainteed Corporation Packaging for specialty shingle
US8083126B2 (en) * 2008-09-13 2011-12-27 Jack Alan Fleming Hand carrier
MX2011003198A (en) 2008-09-24 2011-04-27 Graphic Packaging Int Inc Carrier for containers.
WO2010077909A2 (en) 2008-12-16 2010-07-08 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carrier for containers
CN102333706B (en) 2009-02-27 2013-04-17 印刷包装国际公司 Carrier for containers, blank and method for forming the carrier for the container
ES2452240T3 (en) 2009-06-23 2014-03-31 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Cardboard box with handle
USD620354S1 (en) 2009-07-21 2010-07-27 The C.W. Zumbiel Company Carton with handle
WO2011026010A2 (en) 2009-08-28 2011-03-03 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Carton with handle
US8091702B1 (en) 2010-05-03 2012-01-10 Keip Charles P Integrated cup carrier
JP3174661U (en) 2011-04-04 2012-03-29 ミードウエストヴェイコ・パッケージング・システムズ・エルエルシー Cartons and blanks for packaging goods
USD684369S1 (en) 2011-06-07 2013-06-18 Holo Holo, LLC Linear four-pack beverage carrier
USD694125S1 (en) 2012-11-29 2013-11-26 Toivo Holsmer Container carrier
USD695634S1 (en) 2012-11-29 2013-12-17 Toivo Holsmer Container carrier
USD690109S1 (en) 2012-11-29 2013-09-24 Josh Shupp Carrier for transporting alcoholic beverage bottles
USD729073S1 (en) 2013-03-04 2015-05-12 Craig Wasilewski Formed bottle carrier
MX2016014420A (en) 2014-05-09 2017-01-20 Graphic Packaging Int Inc Carrier for containers.
USD776548S1 (en) 2014-11-21 2017-01-17 Huhtamaki, Inc. Cup carrier
USD744824S1 (en) 2014-12-17 2015-12-08 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Article display
USD744823S1 (en) 2014-12-17 2015-12-08 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Article display
US20170144814A1 (en) 2015-02-17 2017-05-25 Zoxxbox, LLC Bottle carrier
USD878932S1 (en) 2018-10-12 2020-03-24 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier
CA3180955A1 (en) 2020-05-22 2021-11-25 Graphic Packaging International, Llc Carrier with lid

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070194092A1 (en) * 2006-02-20 2007-08-23 Brian Donnelly Disposable carry-out food container
US20090121001A1 (en) * 2006-04-12 2009-05-14 Felix Miquel Perez Basket
JP2010265027A (en) * 2009-05-18 2010-11-25 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Carrier and blank
CN204236871U (en) * 2014-11-25 2015-04-01 天津商业大学 A kind of four basket type packing boxes
KR102103278B1 (en) * 2018-12-19 2020-04-22 고문당인쇄(주) Split type package

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of EP4153503A4 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
MX2022014467A (en) 2022-12-13
EP4153503A1 (en) 2023-03-29
CA3180955A1 (en) 2021-11-25
US11548708B2 (en) 2023-01-10
US20210362927A1 (en) 2021-11-25
EP4153503A4 (en) 2024-05-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CA2623193C (en) Carton with curved end and dispensing features
EP1853483B1 (en) Carton with gusseted handle
AU2013240454B2 (en) Carton with tray
US11807432B2 (en) Shipping and dispensing construct
CA2993449C (en) Reinforced package
US20070000980A1 (en) Carton capable of carrying take-out food and beverages
US8997986B2 (en) Carrier with retention features
AU2020315443B2 (en) Carton with attachment features
AU2008203766A1 (en) Cooler box with handle round
EP2013094B1 (en) Carton with vent openings
US11760533B2 (en) Carton for articles
CA2933111A1 (en) Carton with opening feature
US11548708B2 (en) Carrier with lid
WO2024030358A1 (en) Carrier for containers
US20230286714A1 (en) Carton and carton blank
US20240239580A1 (en) Sleeve For Holding Containers
US20240067390A1 (en) Divider Construct For Cartons, Related Systems And Methods
US20240116689A1 (en) Article carrier and blank therefor
WO2023212150A1 (en) Carton with article retention features

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 21809571

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 3180955

Country of ref document: CA

ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2021809571

Country of ref document: EP

Effective date: 20221222

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE