Patent ID: 9481501
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: B31B,B65B,B65D

Claim Text:
1. A method of forming a carton, the method comprising: obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a top panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, at least two first end flaps at a first marginal area of the blank each being respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, at least two second end flaps at a second marginal area of the blank each being respectively foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, and at least one article protection flap foldably connected to the bottom panel; positioning the plurality of panels to at least partially form the carton having an interior space, a first open end, and a second open end; loading a plurality of beverage bottles in the interior space through at least one of the first open end and the second open end, each of the plurality of beverage bottles comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion being wider than the top portion; closing the first end of the carton by folding the at least two first end flaps and at least partially overlapping the at least two first end flaps; closing the second end of the carton by folding the at least two second end flaps and at least partially overlapping the at least two second end flaps; tightening the carton by folding the at least one article protection flap into the interior space after the loading of the plurality of beverage bottles and the closing of the first end of the carton and the closing of the second end of the carton, the tightening comprising pressing the at least one article protection flap against two adjacent beverage bottles to initiate movement of the two adjacent beverage bottles so that one of the two adjacent beverage bottles is moved toward the first end and the other of the two adjacent beverage bottles is moved toward the second end, the movement of the two adjacent beverage bottles accommodating the space required for the at least one article protection flap between the two adjacent beverage bottles.