Carton having shock-absorbing carrying handle

Abstract: A carton (10) and a blank for forming a carton comprising a top panel (12) having a pair of opposite side edges, a pair of side panels (14,22) foldably joined to and extending downwardly from the side edges of the top panel, and a strap handle (44) formed in part from the top panel and in part from the side panels. The handle extends transversely across the top panel and being joined at opposite end portions thereof respectively to the side panels. An intermediate portion (46) of the handle is defined between a pair of opposed first slits (52,54) formed in the top panel, each of the end portions of the handle being defined between a pair of opposed second slits (66,72) formed in adjacent one of the side panels. The second slits in each of the side panels are continuous respectively with the first slits and extending generally downwardly from adjacent one of the side edges of the top panel. Each side panel is provided with a pair of third slits (70,76) disposed at a lateral space respectively from the second slits in each side panel, the third slits extending to respective lower ends remoter from adjacent one of the side edges of the top panel than lower ends of the second slits in each side panels. The lower ends of the second slits in each side panel are curved so as to be directed respectively to the third slits in each side panel whereby when the handle is pulled upward, each of the second slits tends to tear into adjacent one of the third slits.

Description: This invention generally relates to a carton having a carrying handle and more particularly to a carton having a strap handle which has great resistance to impact applied thereto when the carton is lifted by holding such a handle. French Patents No 2 057 360 and 2 064 523 disclose a carton having a strap handle, which carton includes a pair of side panels foldably joined to top and bottom panels to form a tubular structure for accommodating a group of articles. The strap handle is struck in part from the top panel and in part from the side panels so that it extends across the top panel and is joined at its opposite ends to the side panels. One problem with this type of carton is its vulnerability to tearing of the handle due to impact applied to the handle when the carton is lifted by holding the handle. One solution to this problem is to form the carton from relatively thick paperboard. However, this would not be an economical solution. Another solution is to provide the handle with a reinforcement by means of flaps foldably joined entirely along the opposite side edges of the handle. Such a reinforced strap handle is described, for example, in US Patent 4,222,485 to Focke, wherein the reinforcing flaps are folded in superposed relationship with the handle. Although this would prevent tearing at the intermediate portion of the handle, the handle still tends to tear at either end thereof because the flaps cannot reinforce the joint region between the handle and each side panel at which stress tends to be concentrated. Attaching a separate reinforcing elements to the handle may be another solution. This would, however, cause increase in number of the carton manufacturing processes and thus would not be desirable from the view point of productivity. What is needed, therefore, is a carton which has a strap handle having great impact strength, which is of an economical construction and which can be efficiently manufactured. One aspect of the invention provides a carton comprising a top panel having a pair of opposite side edges, a pair of side panels foldably joined to and extending downwardly from the side edges of the top panel, and a strap handle formed in part from the top panel and in part from the side panels. The handle extends across the top panel and is joined at opposite end portions thereof respectively to the side panels. An intermediate portion of the handle is defined between a pair of opposed first slits formed in the top panel, each of the end portions of the handle being defined between a pair of opposed second slits formed in adjacent one of the side panels, the second slits in each of the side panels being continuous respectively with the first slits and extending generally downwardly from adjacent one of the side edges of the top panel. Each side panel is provided with a pair of third slits disposed at a lateral space respectively from the second slits in each side panel, the third slits extending to respective lower ends remoter from adjacent one of the side edges of the top panel than lower ends of the second slits in each side panels. The lower ends of the second slits in each side panel are curved so as to be directed respectively to the third slits in each side panel whereby when the handle is pulled upward, each of the second slits tends to tear into adjacent one of the third slits. Preferably, each side panel may be provided with a pair of tear lines extending respectively from the lower ends of the second slits in each side panel to the third slits in each side panel. According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention the lower ends of the third slits in each side panel may be arcuately curved. A second aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carton, comprising a top panel having a pair of opposite side edges, a pair of side panels foldably joined to the side edges of the top panel, the top panel having a pair of opposed first slits extending across the top panel transversely of the side edges, each of the side panels having a pair of opposed second slits disposed transversely of the side edges of the top panel, the second slits in each side panel being disposed continuously respectively with the first slits and extending from adjacent one of the side edges away from the first panel whereby a portion of the top panel between the first slits and respective portions of the side panels between the second slits comprise a continuous length of strap handle. Each side panel is provided with a pair of third slits disposed at a lateral space respectively from the second slits in each side panel, the third slits extending to respective outward ends remoter from adjacent one of the side edges of the top panel than outward ends of the second slits in each side panels, and in that the outward ends of the second slits in each side panel being curved so as to be directed respectively to the third slits in each side panel. According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention each side panel may be provided with a pair of tear lines extending respectively from the outer ends of the second slits in each side panel to the third slits in each side panel. According to another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the outer ends of the third slits in each side panel may be arcuately curved. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a carton according to the invention; FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the blank from which the carton in Fig. 1 is formed; FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton in Fig. 1, showing the handle in the condition wherein impact force has just been applied to the handle; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton in Fig. 1, showing the handle in the condition wherein the intermediate portion of the handle is upwardly bowed and the end portions are displaced inwardly; FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line V-V in Fig. 4; Figs. 6-9 show embodiments not in line with the claimed invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a can carton according to another embodiment of the invention; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the carton in Fig. 6, showing the handle in the upwardly bowed condition; FIG. 8 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the blank from which the carton in Fig. 6 is formed; and FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the blank from which a carton according to a further embodiment is formed. Fig. 1 illustrates a wrap-around carton 10 having an open-ended tubular construction, which accommodates a plurality of bottles. As depicted in broken lines in Fig. 1, eight bottles B1-B8 are arranged in two rows of four bottles each and are disposed within the carton 10 with their longitudinal/center axes vertical and in parallel relation to each other. The carton 10 includes a top panel 12 horizontally disposed near the tops of the bottles B1-B8. The top panel 12 has a plurality of bottle neck receiving apertures 30-37. The necks of the bottles B1-B8 are received in the apertures 30-37 respectively and project upwardly from the top panel 12 as is apparent in Fig. 1. A side panel 14 is foldably joined to the top panel 12 along a fold line 16 and extends generally downwardly therefrom to be disposed adjacent to the side walls of the bottles B1-B4. A bottom lap panel 18 is joined foldably to the lower edge of the side panel 14 along a fold line 20 and extends generally horizontally to underlie the bottles B1-B4. A side panel 22 is foldably joined to the top panel 12 along fold line 24 and extends generally downwardly therefrom to be disposed adjacent to the side walls of the bottles B5-B8. A bottom lap panel 26 is foldably joined to the lower edge of the side panel 22 along a fold line 28 and extends generally horizontally to underlie the bottles B5-B8. The lap panels 18 and 26 are disposed in overlapping relationship with each other and are secured together by suitable means to maintain the carton in the tubular form. Preferred securing means for the lap panels 18 and 26 is a mechanical lock which is disclosed for example in US Patent Nos. 4, 077, 095 and 5, 131, 588 which are owned by the assignee of the invention and which are hereby incorporated by reference. However, any other suitable securing means such as an adhesive known in this art may be used instead of the mechanical lock. The apertures 30-37 are provided at the peripheries thereof with short cuts and fold lines generally indicated at 38 which are of known construction. Also, flaps 40 and 42 are provided for the carton 10 to retain the bottom portions of the bottles B1-B8 in position. The flaps 40 (only one shown in Fig. 1) are struck in part from the bottom lap panel 18 and in part from the side panel 14, and the flaps 42 are struck in part from the bottom lap panel 26 and in part from the side panel 22. These flaps 40 and 42 are described in more detail fro example in US Patent No 4, 545, 485 which is owned by the assignee of the invention and which is hereby incorporated by reference. A transverse strap handle 44 is formed in part in the top panel 12 and in part in the side panels 14 and 22. The handle 44 extends transversely across the width of the top panel 12 and is joined at its opposite ends to the side panels 14 and 22 respectively. The location of the handle 44 is such that the handle 44 is disposed midway between two intermediate pairs of bottles, i.e. one pair which consists of the bottles B2 and B6 and the other pair which consists of the bottles B3 and B7. This handle 44 is normally disposed in the stowed position as shown in Fig. 1 wherein the intermediate portion 46 of the handle 44 is disposed in the plane of the top panel 12 and the opposite end portions 48 and 50 of the handle 44 are disposed flush with the side panels 14 and 22. As best shown in Fig. 2 which illustrates a part of the carton 10 in blank form, the intermediate portion 46 is struck from the top panel 12 and is defined between a pair of spaced side edges. One of the side edges of the intermediate portion 46 is defined by a slit 52 and parts of the perimeters of the apertures 31 and 35. In other words, the slit 52 include the respective inner half perimeters of the apertures 31 and 35 thus extends across the width of the top panel 12. In like manner, the other side edge of the intermediate portion 46 is defined by a slit 54 and the respective inner half perimeters of the apertures 32 and 36. Two medial fold lines 56 and 58 are formed in the intermediate portion 46. These medial fold lines 56 and 58 extend between the fold lines 16 and 24 and divide the intermediate portion 46 into three parts, i.e. a rectangular central part 60, a cushion flap 62 and another cushion flap 64. The flaps 62 and 64 are joined to the central part 60 along the medial fold lines 56 and 58. As will be described later, these cushion flaps 62 and 64 in use are folded inwardly of the carton and form cushions along the medial fold lines 56 and 58. The end portions 48 and 50 of the handle 44 are struck from the side panels 14 and 22 respectively. Each end portion is defined between a pair of spaced side edges. The end portion 48 is foldably joined to the intermediate portion 46 along a part of the fold line 16, and the end portion 50 is foldably joined to the intermediate portion 46 along a part of the fold line 24. Because the end portions 48 and 50 are of a virtually identical construction, only the end portion 48 will hereinafter be described and description of the end portion 50 is omitted. The parts of the portion 50 similar to the parts of the portion 48 are identified in Fig. 1 by the same reference numerals with the subscript "a". According to one feature of the invention, each side edge of the end portion 48 is defined by at least two separate slits that are offset from each other. In the depicted embodiment, one of the side edges of the end portion 48 is defined by a upper slit 66, a short tear line 68 and a lower slit 70. The upper slit 66 extends downwardly as viewed in Fig. 1 from the perimeter of the aperture 31 and terminates at a lower end which is curved toward the other side edge of the end portion 48. The lower slit 70 has its upper end disposed at a location laterally and inwardly offset or spaced from the lower end of the upper slit 66 and extends therefrom such that the lower end portion of the lower slit 70 is arcuately curved laterally outward of the side panel 14. The curvature of the slit 70 facilitate dispersal of stress in the side wall 14 when the carton 10 is lifted by the handle 44 and thereby to minimize the possibility of tearing of the side wall 14. The tear line 68 is formed of a plurality of perforations and extends between the lower end of the upper slit 66 and the upper end of the lower slit 70. The other side edge of the end portion 48 is defined by a upper slit 72, a short tear line 74 and a lower slit 76. These elements form a mirror image of the aforementioned one side edge of the end portion 48 and the arrangements thereof are substantially identical to the elements 66, 68 and 70 respectively. According to another feature of the invention, the end portion 48 includes foldable means designed to absorb impact applied to the handle 44 when the handle 44 is pulled upward. In the depicted embodiment, the foldable means comprises a pair of engaging tabs 78 and 80 foldably joined to the end portion 48 along fold lines 82 and 84 respectively. More particularly, the tab 78 is defined by the slit 66, the tear line 68, the fold line 82 and a part of the perimeter of the aperture 31, and the tab 78 is defined by the slit 72, the tear line 74, the fold line 84 and a part of the perimeter of the aperture 32. The fold lines 82 and 84 are disposed in alignment respectively with the fold lines 56 and 58 in the top panel 12 and extend from the fold line 16 respectively to the upper ends of the lower slits 70 and 76. To lift and carry the carton of this invention, the fingers of a user are pressed against the cushion flaps 62 and 64 as shown in Fig. 1 and are inserted into the slots defined by the flaps 62 and 64. This causes the flaps 62 and 64 to be folded downwardly into the respective positions where they are disposed in flat face contacting relation with the inside surface of the central part 60 as best shown in Fig. 3. By this structure, the flap 62.and 64 effectively reinforce the handle 44 and affords cushions along the fold lines 56 and 58, which protects the hand of the user. The handle 44 is then gripped by the fingers and pulled upwards so that the carton 10 is lifted. When the handle 44 is first pulled, impact stress tends to be concentrated at around the lower ends of the upper slits 66, 72, 66a and 72a although stress is induced throughout the handle 44. Such concentrated stress causes tearing of the panels 14 and 22 along the tear lines 68, 74, 68a and 74a. This tearing delays the full impact force to reach any other portion of the handle 44; it prevents sudden substantial stress increase in any other portion of the handle 44. Fig. 3 shows the handle 44 in the condition wherein the upward pulling force has just been applied to the handle 44 but the panels 14 and 22 have not yet been torn whereas Fig. 4 shows the handle 44 in the raised position wherein the panels 14 and 22 have been torn along the tear lines and the intermediate portion 46 is upwardly bowed. Tearing along the tear lines 68, 74, 68a and 74a intercommunicates the upper slits 66, 72, 66a and 72a respectively with the lower slits 70, 76, 70a and 76a. This operation allows the end portions 48 and 50 of the handle 44 to be displaced inwardly of the carton 10 as the intermediate portion 46 is pulled and thus bowed upwardly as shown in Fig. 4. This displacement of the end portions causes the tabs 78, 80, 78a and 80a to be pressed against the bottles B2, B3, B6 and B7 and to thus be folded outwardly of the carton about the fold lines 82, 84, 82a and 84a as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This folding movement of the tabs 78, 80, 78a and 80a allow the handle 44 to absorb the impact applied thereto when tearing along the tear lines 68, 74, 68a and 74a are completed. In other words, the impact force applied to the handle is used to gradually increase bending stress in the handle 44 around the fold lines 82, 84, 82a and 84a as the tabs 78, 80, 78a and 80a are folded. The handle 44 is thus prevented from being damaged by the pulling impact, and therefore the end portion 48 and'50 are fully displaced into the rooms, i.e. one room between the bottles B2 and B3 and the other room between the bottles B6 and B7, to provide an adequate hand room between the intermediate portion 46 and the top panel 12 as best shown in Fig. 5. In the foregoing embodiment, the medial fold lines 56 and 58 are disposed in substantially tangential relation with the circular perimeters of the adjacent neck-receiving apertures 31, 35, 32 and 36 to allow the tabs 78, 80, 78a and 80a be separated from the cushion flaps 62 and 64. However, it should be recognized that in an arrangement wherein no neck-receiving aperture is employed, suitable separation means such as cuts and slits should be provided for the handle to separate the foldable tabs from the carton top panel or the cushion flaps. Such cuts and slits may be disposed along the joint between the top panel and each side panel or at any other location either in the top panel or in the side panels. Cartons having no neck-receiving aperture are disclosed for example in US Patent Nos. 4, 784, 266 and 5, 131, 588 which are owned by the assignee of the invention and which are hereby incorporated by reference. As suggested in these patents, the bottle neck-receiving apertures may be replaced by any end bottle retention means known in this art. It should be also recognized that in the foregoing embodiment, the tear lines 68, 74, 68a and 74a are options any may be omitted. The present invention may also be applied to can cartons. One such example is shown in Figs. 6-8 wherein the can carton 90 accommodates six cans arranged in two rows of three cans each. The carton 90 includes upper and lower sloping strips 92, 94, 96 and 98 in addition to the top panel 100, side panels 102 and 104 and the bottom lap panels 1-6 and 108, and also included end retention means in the form of comer web structures 110. 112, 114 and 116. The details of the sloping strips and the comer web structures are described in US Patent No. 5, 000, 313 which is owned by the assignee of the invention ad which is hereby incorporated by reference. As best shown in Fig. 8, a transverse strap handle 120 is disposed astride the top panel 110 and both the upper sloping panels 92 and 94 and is joined at its opposite ends to the side panels 102 and 104 respectively. The location of the handle 120 is such that the handle 120 is disposed over two intermediate cans C3 and C4. The intermediate portion 122 is struck from the top panel 100 and is defined between a pair of spaced side edges. One of the side edges is defined by a slit 124 which includes the outer perimeter of a cushion flap 126 struck from the top panel 100. In like manner, the other side edge of the intermediate portion 122 is defined by a slit 128 including the outer perimeter of a cushion flap 130 struck from the top panel 100. The flaps 126 and 130 are foldably joined to the intermediate portion 122 along fold lines 132 and 134. The end portion 136 of the handle 120 is struck in part from the side panel 102 and in part from the sloping panel 92. Likewise, the end portion 138 is struck in part from the side panel 104 and in part from the sloping panel 94. The end portion 136 is defined between a pair of slits 140 and 142 which extend downwardly as viewed in Fig. 6 from the fold line 144, intersect the fold line 146 and terminate at respective lower ends in the side panel 102. The lower ends of the slits 140 and 142 are curved outwardly and then upwardly toward the top panel 100. The slits 140 and 142 are disposed continuously with the slits 124 and 128 in the top panel 100. The end portion 136 is formed with an aperture 148 for receiving the top portion of the intermediate can C3, and the foldable tabs 150 and 152 are joined to the perimeter of the aperture 148 along fold lines 154 and 156. These tabs 150 and 152 are formed of material struck from the end portion 136 to form the aperture 148. Because the end portions 136 and 138 are of a virtually identical construction, description of the end portion 138 is omitted and the parts of the portion 138 similar to the parts of the portion 136 are identified in Fig. 8 by the same reference numerals with the subscript "a". In use, the flaps 126 and 130 are folded downwardly into the respective positions under the intermediate portion 122 and then the handle 120 is pulled upwards. This allows the end portions 136 and 138 to be moved inwardly of the carton 90 as the intermediate portion 122 is bowed upwardly as shown in Fig. 7. This operation causes the top portions of the cans C3 and C4 to be received in the apertures 148 and 148a and thus causes the tabs 150, 152, 150a and 152a to be pressed against the cans C3 and C4. The pressed tabs are folded outwardly about the fold lines 154, 156, 154a and 156a and thereby absorb the pulling impact to the handle 120. It should be recognized that the invention may also be used with bottle cartons containing an odd number (e.g. three) of bottles in each row. Fig. 9 shows a bottle carton having a handle 160 similar to the handle 120 in Fig. 8, in which the apertures 162 and 162a in the handle end portions 236 and 238 are formed such that they are open respectively to the intermediate bottle neck-receiving apertures in the top panel 164. The remainder of the handle 160 is virtually identical to the handle 120 in Fig. 8 and thus description thereof is omitted. Those portions of the handle 160 in Fig. 9 identical to the handle 120 are denoted by similar references which are larger by one hundred than the corresponding references used in Fig. 8. It should be recognized that the invention may be used with any number of articles for each row, and may also be used for article arrangements having one row or greater than two rows.

Claims: A carton comprising a top panel (12) having a pair of opposite side edges, a pair of side panels (14, 22) foldably joined to and extending downwardly from said side edges of said top panel, and a strap handle (44) formed in part from said top panel (12) and in part from said side panels, said handle extending across said top panel and being joined at opposite end portions (48, 50) thereof respectively to said side panels, an intermediate portion (46) of said handle being defined between a pair of opposed first slits (52, 54) formed in said top panel, each of said end portions of said handle being defined between a pair of opposed second slits (66, 72) formed in adjacent one of said side panels, said second slits in each of said side panels being continuous respectively with said first slits and extending generally downwardly from adjacent one of said side edges of said top panel, characterised in that said each side panel being provided with a pair of third slits (70, 76, 70a, 76a) disposed at a lateral space respectively from said second slits in said each side panel, said third slits extending to respective lower ends remoter from adjacent one of said side edges of said top panel than lower ends of said second slits in said each side panels, and in that said lower ends of said second slits in said each side panel being curved so as to be directed respectively to said third slits in said each side panel whereby when said handle is pulled upward, each of said second slits tends to tear into adjacent one of said third slits. The carton according to claim 1, wherein said each side panel (14, 22) is provided with a pair of tear lines (68, 74, 68a, 74a) extending respectively from said lower ends of said second slits in said each side panel to said third slits in said each side panel. The carton according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said lower ends of said third slits in said each side panel are arcuately curved. A blank for forming a carton, comprising a top panel (12) having a pair of opposite side edges, a pair of side panels (14, 22) foldably joined to said side edges of said top panel, said top panel having a pair of opposed first slits (52, 54) extending across said top panel transversely of said side edges, each of said side panels having a pair of opposed second slits (66, 72) disposed transversely of said side edges of said top panel, said second slits in said each side panel being disposed continuously respectively with said first slits and extending from adjacent one of said side edges away from said first panel whereby a portion of said top panel between said first slits and respective portions of said side panels between said second slits comprise a continuous length of strap handle, characterised in that said each side panel being provided with a pair of third slits (70, 76, 70a, 76a) disposed at a lateral space respectively from said second slits in said each side panel, said third slits extending to respective outward ends remoter from adjacent one of said side edges of said top panel than outward ends of said second slits in said each side panels, and in that said outward ends of said second slits in said each side panel being curved so as to be directed respectively to said third slits in said each side panel. The blank according to claim 4, wherein said each side panel (14, 22, 102, 104) is provided with a pair of tear lines (68, 74, 68a, 74a) extending respectively from said outer ends of said second slits in said each side panel to said third slits in said each side panel. The blank according to claim 4 wherein said outer ends of said third slits in said each side panel are arcuately curved.

Inventors: BATES AARON, BATES, AARON
Applicants: MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS, MEADWESTVACO PACKAGING SYSTEMS LLC
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D71