Package for containers

A package is formed from a carton and containers extending through a bottom panel of the carton. First and second struts and a brace in the carton interior provide support for the containers accommodated within the carton.

BACKGROUND

Cartons for engaging and securing upper portions of containers are known. The containers are typically inserted through apertures in a bottom panel of the carton and secured by engaging radially protruding parts of the containers. One such carton is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,892 to Bakx. Conventional cartons, however, may not securely retain the containers, or may fail to satisfy other requirements recognized in the art.

SUMMARY

According to a first embodiment of the invention, a package comprises a carton comprising a top panel, a first receiving panel, a second receiving panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a brace extending between the first and second receiving panels, a first row of first container apertures in the first receiving panel, and a second row of second container apertures in the second receiving panel. A plurality of containers are accommodated in the container apertures.

According to one aspect of the first embodiment, the brace abuts one or more of the containers in the carton interior to prevent pivoting and/or translation of the containers. The brace may be formed from one or more foldably connected panels that are drawn up into the carton interior during erection of the carton.

According to another aspect of the first embodiment, struts may be located at each container aperture. The struts may be arranged in pairs, and may exert an upward bias on flanges of the containers. The struts therefore prevent the containers from inadvertently falling downward through the container apertures.

Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present embodiments are addressed to cartons for attachment to containers. The cartons engage and secure upper portions of the containers to form a package.

FIG. 1is a plan view of a blank8used to form a carton or carrier150according to an embodiment of the invention. The carton150is illustrated in its erected state inFIG. 5, in which it is attached to upper portions of containers170, forming a package200. As shown inFIG. 1, the blank8may be wholly or partially symmetric about a transverse centerline CTand a longitudinal centerline CL. Therefore, certain elements in the drawing figures share common reference numerals in order to reflect the whole and/or partial symmetries. In this specification, the terms “bottom,” “top,” “lower,” “upper,” and “side” indicate orientations determined in relation to a fully erected carrier package placed in an upright configuration.

Referring toFIG. 1, the blank8comprises a first top panel10foldably connected to a first side panel20at a first transverse fold line21, a bottom panel30foldably connected to the first side panel20at a second transverse fold line31, a second side panel40foldably connected to the bottom panel30at a third transverse fold line41, and a second top panel50foldably connected to the second side panel40at a fourth transverse fold line51.

The bottom panel30includes six container-receiving patterns80. Three patterns80are arranged in a first row34and three patterns80are arranged in a second row36in the bottom panel30. Each container-receiving pattern80is shaped and sized to receive an upper portion of a container170that is to be held within the erected carton150. In the exemplary embodiment, six containers170are accommodated in the erected carton150, forming a 2×3 package. Other package configurations, such as 2×2 or 2×4, etc. are also within the scope of the present invention.

Each first container-receiving pattern80includes a plurality of lines of disruption defining an outer strut82and an inner strut84. In each pattern80, the outer and inner struts82,84are separated by a transverse cut86, and a longitudinal expansion cut88extends through a center portion of adjacent outer and inner struts82,84. The sides of the struts82,84are defined by side cuts89. The side cuts89may include curved or arcuate sections that may conform to the exterior profile of the containers C. In the first row34, the outer struts82are foldably attached at the transverse fold line31, and the inner struts84are foldably attached at a transverse fold line66. In the second row36, the outer struts82are foldably attached at the transverse fold line41, and the inner struts84are foldably attached at a transverse fold line66.

The bottom panel30is divided into a plurality of generally rectangular elongate panels60,64,70. The container-receiving patterns80in the first row34are formed in a first receiving panel70foldably connected to the first side panel20at the fold line31. The container-receiving patterns80in the second row36are formed in a second receiving panel70foldably connected to the second side panel40at the fold line41. A side brace panel64is foldably connected to an interior side of each receiving panel70at a transverse fold line66. A center brace panel60is foldably connected to an interior side of each side brace panel64at a transverse fold line62. The brace panels60,64are foldable with respect to one another to form a brace in the erected carton150.

The transverse fold lines21,31,41,51,62,66in the blank8can be more generally referred to as “lines of weakness” or “lines of disruption” in the blank about which the blank is foldable to some degree. Each of the fold lines may be interrupted at one or more locations, for example, and need not be continuous across its entire length. One or more cuts may be, for example, placed along one or more of the transverse fold lines21,31,41,51,62,66. Any number of cuts may be formed along the fold lines, and the number and length of the cuts may be selected according to, for example, the gauge and the stiffness of the material used to form the blank8. The cuts may be partial cuts (e.g. kiss cuts), or 100% cuts extending through the entire thickness of the blank8.

The lines86,88,89defining the container-receiving patterns80are illustrated as continuous 100% cuts (e.g. slits) which extend through the entire thickness of the blank8. The lines86,88,89can be generally referred to as “breachable lines of disruption” that are intended to be breached during erection of the carton150. The breachable lines can be, for example, continuous or substantially continuous tear lines formed by, for example, scores, creases, cuts, gaps, cut/creases, perforations, offset cuts, and combinations thereof. If cuts are used to form the breachable lines86,88,89, the cuts may be, for example, interrupted by breachable nicks. Partial cuts, which do not extend through the entire thickness of the blank8, for example, may also be used.

An exemplary method of erection of the carton150to form the package200is discussed below with reference toFIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 2is a perspective view of an erection step of the carton150including its initial attachment to the containers170. Top portions of four containers170, including their flanges175, are inserted through the container-receiving patterns80, one container170per pattern80. Insertion of the containers170may serve to open up container apertures85in the receiving panels70. The container apertures85may, for example, have curved or arcuate sidewalls at each end that may generally conform in shape to the exterior profiles of the containers170. InFIG. 2, the containers170push the outer and inner struts82,84upwardly so that they fold about the transverse fold lines66,31or41, and extend generally upwardly from the receiving panels70. After insertion in the container-receiving patterns80, the underside of each container flange175rests on an upper edge94of an adjacent outer strut82, and an upper edge90of an adjacent inner strut84. The outer and inner struts82,84can deform at the expansion cuts88as the struts deform around the curved upper portions of the containers170.

Referring toFIG. 3, the side brace panels64are pivoted upwardly about the transverse fold lines62,66as the sides of the blank8are drawn inwardly. The center brace panel60folds with respect to the side brace panels64at the fold lines62.

Referring toFIG. 4, the side brace panels64are further pivoted upwardly about the transverse fold lines66as the sides of the blank8are drawn inwardly until the side brace panels64abut. The center portion of the blank8is thereby drawn upwardly into the interior of the carton150until the receiving panels70are adjacent or abutting one another. If desired, the side brace panels64may optionally be adhered together in the vicinity of the fold lines66where the side brace panels64abut. As the side brace panels64pivot upwardly and out of plane with the panels70, the center brace panel60moves upwardly until it abuts interior surfaces of the container flanges175. In this configuration, the side brace panels64and the center brace panel60form a brace100. The first and second side panels20,40are pivoted inwardly about the transverse fold lines31,41respectively, so that they extend generally upright. The second top panel50is folded about the transverse fold line51so that it extends over the tops of the containers170disposed within the second row36(FIG. 1) of container apertures85. The first top panel10is then folded over the tops of the containers170disposed within the second row34of container apertures85and the underside of the top panel10is adhered to the upper side of the second top panel50.FIG. 5illustrates the carton150secured around the top portions of the containers170, forming a package200.

As shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the carton150is a generally tubular form with open ends. When viewed from the open ends of the carton150, the cross section of the carton150is generally rectangular, although the upright side panels20,40can be tilted with respect to vertical so that the cross section is generally trapezoidal. The brace100extends through the center of the carton150and abuts interior surfaces of the container flanges175. When viewed from the open ends of the carton150, the brace100has a generally triangular cross section, with the center brace panel60extending across the top of the brace100. The center brace panel60exerts a bias against the inner surfaces of the flanges175and the side panels20,40exert a bias on the outer surface of the flanges175. The opposing biases on the container flanges175are arranged to prevent the containers170from pivoting and/or otherwise translating within the carton150. The outer and inner struts82,84exert upward biases on the undersides of the flanges175that prevent the containers170from inadvertently falling downwardly through the receiving apertures85. The outer and inner struts82,84also further restrict pivoting and/or other translation of the containers170within the carton150.

According to one aspect of the above embodiment, containers170are securely retained by the side panels20,40, the struts82,84and by the brace100in the carton interior. The containers170are thereby secured against being pulled downwardly through the receiving panels70, and are also secured against excessive translation and/or pivoting within the carton150.

The exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 5illustrates a carton150accommodating six containers170arranged in two rows and three columns. Additional columns, for example, may be added by increasing the width of the blank8(in the transverse direction inFIG. 1) and forming additional columns of container-receiving patterns80in the bottom panel30.

In this specification, the term “flange” indicates any radially projecting rim, collar, ring, raised portion or protrusion extending from an upper portion of a container. The present embodiments illustrate containers having lids disposed on a bottom, receptacle portion. The term “flange” can apply to a radially projecting upper portion of the receptacle and/or to a container lid secured to the top of the receptacle portion.

The blank according to the present invention can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blank can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blank may then be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on the blank. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, the blank may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carrier package to function at least generally as described above. The blank can also be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.

For purposes of the description presented herein, the term “line of disruption” can be used to generally refer to, for example, cut lines, slits, score lines, crease lines, tear lines, fold lines, and combinations thereof, formed in a blank.

A fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of disruption or weakening in the blank that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, examples of fold lines include: score lines; crease lines; a cut or a series of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along a desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.

The above embodiment may be described as having one or panels adhered together by glue. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure various portions of the blank.

The description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Also, it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments, not explicitly defined in the detailed description.