Carton with integral core

A carton (10) has a plurality of adjoining side walls (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28) which form a tubular structure. A plurality of core panels (41, 42, 44) adjoin one another to form a core member (40) which is centrally and substantially perpendicularly adjoined to an end closure.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to cartons containing hubs or hub-like implements for 
wound stranded materials such as wire or rope, and more particular to 
cartons having a hub-like structure integrally formed with the carton. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Cartons having hub or hub-like implements are useful for packaging and 
dispensing materials that are either stored on a spool or stored in a 
spooled configuration. For example, wire, rope, yarn and similar stranded 
material. It would be desirable economically and for convenience to have a 
carton which has a hub integrally formed with the carton. It would be 
further desirable to have such a carton which could be erected from a 
unitary blank. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a carton has a 
plurality of adjoining side walls which form a tubular structure. A 
plurality of core panels are adjoined to one another in angular 
relationship to form a hollow core member. The core member is centrally 
and perpendicularly adjoined to one of the end closures (top or bottom). 
In a blank for forming the carton the end closures are formed by multiple 
plies of the carton. The plurality of core panels are adjoined to one of 
the end closure plies. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent 
from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the 
appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Throughout the figures the same reference numerals are used to refer to 
identical features of the preferred embodiment illustrated. Referring 
first to FIG. 1, therein is shown a carton with an integral core 10 
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Referring now also 
to FIG. 2, therein is illustrated a blank 12 for forming the carton of 
FIG. 1. 
The preferred embodiment of carton 10 which is illustrated is eight-sided 
to enhance its stacking strength and overall structural integrity. 
However, the invention is suitable for use with carton configurations of 
several different multiples of sides. In general, the carton 10 of the 
invention has a tubular body and a bottom end closure, or top and bottom 
end closure. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the tubular 
structure of the carton is formed by panels 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 
and 28. Bottom end closure is provided by panels 30, 32, 34 and 36. 
Similarly, top end closure is provided by panels 50, 52, 54 and 56. To 
facilitate stacking, stacking tabs 53 extend from the upper edge of 
several of the tube-forming side wall panels 20, 22, 24 and 26. The tabs 
53 have complementary stacking notches 33 formed in the bottom edge of 
tube-forming side wall panels 20, 22, 24 and 26, and in one of the side 
wall panels 28 which overlaps another to close the tube. Several of the 
top enclosure panels 52, 56 also have notches 51 for accommodating the 
stacking tabs. 
Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a core member 40 is formed from a central 
core panel 41 which is joined at its sides by flanking core panels 42, 44. 
The core member 40 is joined to the bottom end closure such that it is 
centrally disposed in an upright posture (that is, substantially 
perpendicular with respect to the bottom closure and substantially 
parallel with respect to the tubular side walls) within the tubular side 
walls. In the blank 12 of the preferred embodiment, the central core panel 
41 is foldably joined to one of the bottom closure panels 30. The erected 
core member 40 is stabilized by either or both of a pair of opposing 
stabilizing tabs 43, 45 and 46, 48. A set of stabilizing tabs 43, 45 is 
integrally formed at the lower end of respective flanking core panels 42, 
44. Pivotable stabilizing flaps 46, 48 are foldably joined along 
respective distal ends of the flanking core panels 42, 44. The stabilizing 
tabs 43, 45 and flaps 46, 48 are engaged with the bottom end closure to 
help immobilize the core member 40. The stabilizing tabs 43, 45 and flaps 
46, 48 are engaged with the bottom closure by means of stabilizing slots 
49 which receive the integral stabilizing tabs 43, 45 and the pivotable 
stabilizing flaps 46, 48 which have been folded into face-to-face 
relationship with respective flanking panels 42, 44.