Abstract:
A flexible beverage package includes a container having deformable walls for accommodating the beverage therein. A pictorial indicia is included on the container walls. Handle elements are positioned on the container walls for forming extending grasping members to allow grasping of the container without deforming the walls. The handle elements are incorporated into the pictorial indicia for forming an externally extending continuation of the pictorial indicia.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/855,474 filed Oct. 31, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to liquid containing packages. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flexible beverage container such as a juice box which has graphic depictions thereon and which include fold out handles integrated into the graphic depictions. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Liquids are packaged in a wide variety of containers for consumer use. These packages may take various shapes and sizes. 
         [0004]    One common technique to package beverages or other fluids for individual use, is to employ a flexible package. The beverage may be vacuum sealed within the package for storage and shipping. The package typically has a dispensing opening through which the beverage can be dispensed. One type of flexible package commonly employed is a juice box. These juice boxes include flexible walls and a puncturable opening which may be punctured by a straw supplied with the juice box so as to allow the user to consume the beverage. Juice boxes such as these are extremely popular, especially with children. 
         [0005]    One perceived drawback with the use of juice boxes is that, as the beverage is vacuum sealed within the package and as the walls of the juice box are flexible, the user, especially children who squeeze the juice box during consumption, have a tendency to inadvertently displace the contents of the juice box through the dispensing opening. It is difficult for children to grasp the juice box for use without over squeezing the box thereby spilling the beverage. 
         [0006]    The art has seen a variety of techniques for preventing squeezing of a juice box during use. Many of these techniques employ a holder such as a container having a rigid wall, in the form of a cup or housing to accommodate the juice box thereby preventing squeezing of the flexible walls. Such a holder may also include handles thereon to allow the user to more conveniently hold the juice box. Examples of such are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,086,556; 5,950,857 and 4,986,435. As may be appreciated, a significant drawback with juice box holders of this type is that they must separately supplied and available to the consumer at the time of consumption. 
         [0007]    It is therefore desirable to provide a technique for allowing the secure grasping of a juice box without risk of spillage where a separate holder or housing is not required. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a flexible beverage package such as a juice box or the like. The package includes a container having deformable walls for accommodating the beverage therein. The walls of the container include pictorial indicia thereon. Handle elements are positioned on the container walls. The handle elements form extending grasping members to allow grasping of the container without deforming the walls. The handle elements are incorporated into the pictorial indicia on the package, thereby forming an externally extending continuation of the pictorial indicia. 
         [0009]    In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the flexible beverage package also includes a drinking straw provided therewith. The straw is insertable into the container through one of the deformable walls. The straw, in the inserted position, is incorporated into the pictorial indicia and forms an externally extending continuation of the pictorial indicia. 
         [0010]    Various types of pictorial indicia are contemplated, such as animate and inanimate objects. With respect to animate objects, pictorial indicia may include animals, where the handle element may include extending body parts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a plurality of flexible packages aligned for shipping and sale with pictorial indicia incorporated across the face of the packages. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show one example of a flexible package of the present invention with handles in retracted and displaced position, respectively. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show a further example of the flexible package of the present invention showing the handles retracted and displaced, respectively. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are further embodiments of the flexible package of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The present invention provides a technique for enabling a user to handle a liquid package, especially a flexible beverage package, such as a juice box without displacing the contents thereof. Flexible packages such as juice boxes may be filled under a vacuum. The box may have a variety of dispensing openings including a fold out spout, an opening covered by a removable cap, or a pucturable opening into which a straw is inserted. For example, a straw may be inserted into the package through an opening therethrough. The user may consume the beverage through the straw. However, especially where the walls of the package are flexible and the contents are filled under a vacuum, there is a tendency to inadvertently spill the contents of the beverage upon over squeezing the package. Such a problem is particularly evident with children who have not acquired the requisite manual dexterity to use the package. The present invention therefore provides displaceable handles which may be folded out from the package itself to allow holding of the container without need to squeeze the package. 
         [0016]    Additionally, the present invention provides that the fold out handles may be incorporated into graphic depictions place on the container. The present invention contemplates a wide variety of pictorial indicia which may be placed on the package and which may incorporate thereinto foldable handles. 
         [0017]    It is further contemplated that the dispensing opening may be incorporated into the pictorial design. With embodiments in which a straw is inserted into the package for consumption, the straw may also be incorporated into the graphic depiction. 
         [0018]    An example of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  where a plurality of packages are shown. Each package may include a beverage container, such as a juice box  10 . The juice boxes  10  are arranged in one or more longitudinal arrays forming a multi-pack  11  for shipping, display and sales purposes. In the present illustrative embodiment, eight juice boxes  10  are shown arranged in two rows of four. As may be appreciated, this array may be covered in shrink wrapping (not shown) or other coverings to allow ease of handling. Other arrays of packages (e.g., 1×4, 3×3) are also contemplated. 
         [0019]    Each juice box  10  includes pictorial indicia  12  which in this example represents an animal. The pictorial indicia may be formed by a photograph, drawing or the like and may be placed or printed on the package in conventional fashion. The pictorial indicia  12  included on each juice box  10  may be identical or as in the case of  FIG. 1  may be different. As specifically shown in  FIG. 1 , the pictorial indicia  12  on the boxes  10  may include a variety of different animals. Other indicia such as information relating to the contents of the package as well as advertising and brand name information may also be included on the package. 
         [0020]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one juice box  10  of the plurality is shown. Juice box  10  is a conventional rectangular structure having opposed front and rear faces  14  and  16 , opposed side faces  18  and  20  and top and bottom faces  22  and  24 . Pictorial indicia  12 , particularly shown on juice box  10  in  FIG. 2 , is that of an elephant having the face of the elephant on the front face  14  of box  10 . Portions of the body, including especially the ears of the elephant extend onto side faces  18  and  20 . A portion of the ears of the elephant form fold out handles  26  which are displaceable from the sides  18  and  20  of juice box  10 . The handles  26  are positioned so that when they are displaced, as shown in  FIG. 3 , they form a continuation of the pictorial indicia  12  of the elephant. In some embodiments, the handles  26  may be adhesively secured to the box  10  with a releaseable adhesive so as to allow easy fold out of the handles from the box. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the handles  26  may form a portion of the outer layer of the box  10 . As may be appreciated, once the handles  26  are folded out from the box  10 , the handles may be used to hold the juice box thereby preventing inadvertent squeezing of the walls of the box and displacing the contents therefrom. 
         [0021]    A further feature of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3  where a straw  30  is inserted into the upper face  22  of juice box  10 . As is well known, juice boxes are typically provided with individual straws  30  which may be releasably attached to each individual juice box container. The straws are insertable through a puncturable opening  32  in one of the faces of the box to allow consumption. 
         [0022]    The present invention further provides that the straw  30  may be incorporated into the pictorial indicia on the box. As particularly shown in  FIG. 3 , pictorial indicia  12  of the face of an elephant on box face  14  includes a trunk extending upwardly. The straw  30  which extends out of upper face  22  may be positioned to represent a continuation of the elephant&#39;s trunk. Therefore, the displaced handles  26 , as well as the extending straw  30 , all are incorporated into the pictorial indicia  12  contained on the box  10 . 
         [0023]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a further pictorial embodiment of the present invention is shown. Box  110  includes pictorial indicia  112  representing a monkey. In this instance, the arms of the money extend as handles  126  being displaceable from the box  110 . Moreover, the extending straw  130  which is inserted into the box may be incorporated into and form part of the extending tail of the monkey. 
         [0024]    As may be appreciated, other animal pictorial indicia may also be included, such as, for example, a bird or a snake as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0025]    The present invention, however, is not limited to animal depictions. For example, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the pictorial indicia on the box may include inanimate objects. As shown in  FIG. 6  the box  210  may include a pictorial representation  212  of a video game controller having handles  226  which fold out and form the handles of the controller. 
         [0026]    Similarly, as shown in  FIG. 7 , box  310  may include the pictorial indicia of a steering wheel  312  where the handles  326  form portions of the steering wheel. 
         [0027]    The present invention is designed to provide a flexible beverage package including a container having deformable walls which accommodate the beverage therein. The pictorial indicia on the container walls is not limited to any particular form. The handles which are displaceable from the box to allow holding of the box are incorporated into the pictorial indicia on the box. 
         [0028]    The specific embodiment shown herein should not be deemed as limiting. For example, with respect to the handles, the handles may be provided in a pair or merely a single handle may extend from the box. Further, the handles may extend from adjacent or opposed side surfaces or any other surface of the box including being folded around and attached to multiple surfaces of the box. The handles may be symmetric or asymmetric. In some embodiments, different handles for a box may be shaped differently and positioned differently relative to the box. The handles may themselves be completely detachable from the box and, where completely detachable, may be reattachable thereto by use of an appropriate adhesive. Where the handles are desired not to be detachable, they may be formed of tear proof or tear resistant materials. The handles themselves can be formed of a variety of materials which may be similar or dissimilar to the materials forming juice box and may be of one or multiple layers. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, it is contemplated that the handles when displaced from the box for use may admit an audio signal. Such signal would be provided by an embedded computer chip or other mechanism where the audio signal may be associated with the pictorial representation on the box. For example, with animal representations, it could be a noise made by an animal and with, for example, with the steering wheel of  FIG. 7 , it could be engine sounds. 
         [0030]    Use of the straw as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , it also designed to be incorporated into the pictorial indicia of the box. Therefore, the straw might be colored or have designs thereon which relate to the images on the box. Further, the straw may be bendable to more fully incorporate the straw into the pictorial indicia. 
         [0031]    While the present invention is shown preferably for use with a juice box, it is not limited to a box configuration. Flexible pouches, bags or the like may also be used in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, the size and shape of the package is not limited to that shown herein. 
         [0032]    Other features may be incorporated into the juice box itself, such as an erasable message board or a mirror where the handles portions may include or form part of the mirror. The package may also include other detachable components such as game pieces or collectable cards. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a plurality of packages are sold in an array. The images may cross over multiple individual boxes in a multi-pack arrangement. Moreover, the themes may cross over in multiple packs. Still further, the outer wrapping of the array may be of the type that only exposes the theme after the wrapping is removed. 
         [0034]    Various themes may be used for the individual boxes or multiple boxes. Such themes may include zoos, circus, sports, dolls or action figures, food, fruits or vegetables, manners, princes, fairies, castles, plants, flowers or trees, monsters, technology, holidays and seasonal, various forms of transportation, playground components, video games, and collectible cards. Furthermore, the themes may be educational highlighting grammar, spelling, geography, mathematics, science or history. 
         [0035]    Various changes to the foregoing described and shown structures would now be evident to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the particularly disclosed scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.