Patent Publication Number: US-9884712-B2

Title: Bottle in box container and blank

Description:
The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 14/327,037 filed Jul. 9, 2014, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 13/457,483, filed Apr. 26, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/479,339, filed Apr. 26, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an improved beverage container a foldable blank. More specifically, this invention is directed to an improved easily fillable container for storing, transporting, and dispensing beverages. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the development of beverage packaging, numerous attempts have been made to provide paperboard packaging for fluids, utilizing a plastic bag within the paperboard structure to hold the fluid. As these packages evolved to have dispensing spouts secured and extending from the paperboard packaging, many issues have been addressed, including the secure mounting of spouts and the design of spouts that were easy to use. It has also been desirable to make the inner pouches of these containers removable so that plastic and cardboard or paperboard material can be recycled separately after use. As the bag in box packaging has evolved, some packaging has been designed for the particular use of conveying hot or cold liquids and maintaining an appropriate serving temperature. For instance, a coffee shop or restaurant might utilize a paperboard and plastic bag in box style carton in lieu of a returnable thermos to allow customers to carry multiple servings of branded coffee for use at meetings at location remote from the retail shop dispensing the beverage. Similarly, a restaurant may provide soup in a paperboard and plastic bag in box container. 
     Most of these containers have provided a paperboard outer shell with an opening for a spout on a front vertical panel or forward directed angled panel. When the opening is on the front vertical panel, in order to fill the bag, the container is rested on its back. In these designs, a handle, if any, protrudes from the top of the paperboard box. Paperboard bag in boxes have been shipped to customers in three general fashions. In one fashion the box is shipped as a paperboard blank to be folded and assembled with the plastic bag at the retail location. In a second form, the components are shipped and the assembly requires the use of adhesives. In a third form, the bag is inserted into an assembled box which is collapsed and shipped to the retail location where it need only be expanded to its full size by unfolding. The use of unassembled paperboard blanks is not entirely satisfactory since retail establishment employees must be trained to the proper assembly of the box and bag structure. Heretofore, the collapsed assembled boxes have also suffered from shortcomings in that the handle structures have not been sturdy and the box must necessarily be placed in different orientations for filling, pouring, and resting positions. The need to use a variety of orientations for the box can make it impractical to fill the box with liquid to a point approaching the actual volume of the container. The use of a plastic carton or bottle in a pre-assembled box avoids some of the shortcomings, and although it does not provide the space saving features of using collapsed blanks and bags, it is economical and resolves many other operational difficulties. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a new bottle in box structure to address one or more of these shortcomings to provide additional benefits to retailers and consumers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, a plurality of improved beverage containers are disclosed in this specification of the type having an outer paperboard shell, a spout securing portion, and a handle or gripping structure. When the handle is built into a sidewall of the paperboard container, or openings are provided in the paperboard container to allow use of a handle on a bottle therein, an insulating panel is provided to keep the users hand from contacting the plastic bag of liquid, or carton of liquid, which may be uncomfortably hot to touch. The improved beverage containers preferably rest upon a bottom or base, and have an upward opening spout so that the containers may be filled in the same position that the containers are placed when not in use. A structure is also provided to securely hold the spout of the plastic bag or carton so that it does not fall downward into the surrounding box structure and the fastener for the spout may be easily detached for filling or pouring, and secured when the container is at rest or not in use. 
     A variation of the container may allow for protruding handles. The containers may also be pre-assembled and delivered to retail locations in their ready to use configuration. For this purpose, the paperboard blanks may simply be assembled with their associated plastic bags or cartons or they may be assembled and glued as necessary to maintain the assembled structure of a particular blank. 
     Once it has been determined that a preassembled container is acceptable to a customer, the interior fluid filled bag is preferably replaced with a non-collapsible plastic carton, most typically a HDPE bottle. This realizes cost savings, and the plastic carton provides additional rigidity to the assembled container. It may even allow the container to be carried by a handle formed as a part of the top, or by the cap of the plastic carton. 
     For the purpose of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the invention have been described above. It is not necessary that all objects or advantages be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Turning then to the drawings, several embodiments of one or more aspects of the invention will be discussed in detail. The drawings depict exemplarily blanks and beverage containers for illustrative purposes only and include the following figures with like numerals indicating like parts: 
         FIG. 1 a    is a perspective view of a beverage container of the prior art. 
         FIG. 1 b    is a top plan view of a blank from which the outer shell of the container of  FIG. 1 a    is manufactured, showing the side forming the exterior of the container. 
         FIG. 1 c  and 1 d    are perspective views illustrating steps in the assembly of the beverage container from the blank of  FIG. 1   b.    
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of a blank from which an outer shell of an improved beverage container as manufactured, showing the side forming the interior of the container. 
         FIG. 3 a    is a sectional view of a beverage container constructed from the blank of  FIG. 2  with a flexible bag secured therein; 
         FIGS. 3 b - c    are perspective views illustrating the assembly of the beverage container from the blank of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of an alternative blank from which an outer shell of an improved beverage container is constructed; 
         FIG. 5 a    is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the beverage container from the blank of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6 a    is a comparison of assembled containers with tabbed and adhesive closures on the base. 
         FIG. 6 b    is a comparison of different height containers. 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of an alternative blank from which an outer shell of an improved beverage container is constructed. 
         FIGS. 8 a - e    are perspective views illustrating the assembly of the beverage container from the blank of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bulk container for shipping a plurality of the beverage containers assembled from blanks similar to those disclosed in  FIGS. 2 and 4  with flexible bags mounted therein. 
         FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of an exemplary plastic carton that may be disposed within the container. 
         FIG. 10B  is a side plan view of the carton of  FIG. 10A , showing the top cylindrical opening, a hollow body with an arcuate recess and a gripping bar extending across the recess. 
         FIG. 10C  is a schematic drawing of a carton with no gripping bar. 
         FIG. 11A  is an exemplary top for a carton with a loop handle structure. 
         FIG. 11B  is an exemplary top for a carton with a T-handle structure. 
         FIG. 12  is the exterior of an exemplary blank for use when the container will be preassembled and glued, with cuts for a viewport shown in phantom. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the container assembled from the blank of  FIG. 12  with the view port. 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a plastic carton for use with the container of  FIG. 13  showing an insulating panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     To better appreciate the advantages of the preferred container, a prior art beverage container is shown in detail.  FIGS. 1 a - d    illustrate a beverage container constructed in accordance with the teachings of the prior art. The beverage container  10  includes an outer container or shell  3 , and an inner bag (not shown) having a mouth and a spout  9 . The bag is positioned within the outer shell  3  and communicates with the exterior of the container  10  through the mouth and spout  9 . The container  10  has a front  13 , a back  15 , a left side  17 , a right side  19 , a top  21  and a bottom  23 . In addition, the container defines a handle  25 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 1 a   , the outer shell  3  is configured to be constructed from a one-piece cardboard blank. Of course, the outer shell  3  could be constructed of other materials, such as, for example, fluted or corrugated plastics, other non-corrugated plastics, or other foldable materials. The shell has a front wall panel  16 , a back wall panel  18 , a right side wall panel  20 , a left side wall panel  22  and a side attachment tab  66 . The front wall panel  16  defines a circular opening  48  and tapered slits  49 . The front wall panel  16  is hingedly attached, such as by folding, along a right front fold line  68  to right side wall panel  20 . Adjacent the right front fold line  68 , the right side wall panel  20  is hingedly attached to the back wall panel  18  along a right back fold line  70 . Opposite the right back fold line  70 , the back wall panel  18  is hingedly attached to the left side wall panel  22  along a left back fold line  72 . Adjacent the left back fold line  72 , the attachment tab  66  is attached to the left wall panel  22  along a left front fold line  90 , such as by an adhesive. 
     The blank further incorporates a series of top flaps and a series of bottom flaps. The top flaps include a top front flap  40 , a top right handle flap  28 , a top back flap  42  and a top left handle flap  30 . The bottom flaps include a front bottom flap  54 , right bottom flap  56 , a back bottom flap  52  and a left bottom flap  50 . The top front flap  40  is hingedly secured along a top front fold line  74  to the front wall panel  16 . Likewise, the bottom front flap  54  is hingedly secured along a bottom front fold line  82  to the front wall panel  16 . A circular opening  48  is formed within the front wall panel  16  in close proximity to the top front fold line  74 . The top front flap  40  defines an open-ended slot  44  extending to a distal edge of top front flap  40 . 
     The right side panel  20  is hingedly coupled along a top right fold line  76  to top right handle flap  28  and is also hingedly secured along a bottom right fold line  84  to a bottom right flap  56 . The top right handle flap  28  includes a right handle portion  36  and a right tab portion  32 . 
     Similar to the construction of the front wall panel  16 , the back wall panel  18  hingedly carries a top back flap  42  and a bottom back flap  52  by respective fold lines  78 ,  86 . The top back flap  42  includes a closed slot  46  and a generally U-shaped distal locking portion  43 . A top left handle flap  30  extends from the left side wall panel  22  at top left fold line  80 , while a bottom left flap  50  extends from the left side wall panel  22  from at bottom left fold line  88 . 
     The top left handle flap  30  includes a double left handle portion  38  and a pair of left tab portions  34 ,  39  which are formed by cutouts to define an opening underneath the left handle portion  38 . The bottom left flap  50  defines a small, generally semi-circular slit  75  which forms a finger flap  77 . 
     The bag may be connected to the outer shell  3 . The bag may have one or several layers of material exhibiting the desired characteristics of taste neutrality, thermal insulation and strength. The spout may be attached with adhesives or welding. The mouth has a generally cylindrical body with an annular outer rim at one end which is bonded to the bag, and external threads at the other end, to receive a screw on closure or spout. The opening of the mouth further defines a generally cylindrical internal channel into the bag. The mouth is advantageously sized and shaped for the external threads to be slightly larger than the opening  48  in the front wall panel  16  of the outer shell  3 . 
     Preferably during manufacture and before shipping to an end user, the tab  66  of the left side wall panel  22  is fastened to the front wall panel  16  along an edge  17  of the front wall  16  opposite of the right front fold line  68 . The fastening may be accomplished by double sided tape, adhesive, or other fastening means known to those of skill in the art. Upon fastening, the outer shell  3  may then be laid and stored flattened with two adjacent panels, such as panels  16  and  20  for example, facing upwards, and the other two side wall panels, panels  18  and  22 , facing downwards. The outer shell is thus ready for quick assembly and may be stored in stacks. The spout  9  is threaded onto the mouth after the container has been filled. 
     The illustrated spout  9  of the container is conical in shape and is internally threaded to mate with the external threads of the mouth. For convenience, the mouth may include a tear-off portion for sealing the container, until the destination is reached. In an alternative embodiment, the spout may be omitted, and a cap may be provided to close the mouth, to reduce cost. 
       FIG. 1 c    illustrates the assembly of the bottom of the outer shell  3 . The wall panels  16 ,  18 ,  20 , and  22 , folded to form a substantially rectangular opening  55 . The front wall panel  16  is folded along left front fold line  90  so that the front wall panel is perpendicular to the left side wall panel  22 . The front wall panel  16  is also oriented perpendicularly with respect to right side wall panel  20  along right front fold line  68 , so that left side wall panel  22  and right side wall panel  20  are parallel to each other. The back wall panel  18  is folded along the left back fold line  72  to be perpendicular to the left side wall panel  22 , and is also folded along the right back fold line  70  to be perpendicular to the right side wall panel  20 . The back wall panel  18  is thus parallel to the front wall panel  16 . The side attachment tab  66  is affixed to the front wall  16 . 
     The bottom front flap  54  and bottom back flap  52  are folded inwardly such that the flaps  54 ,  52  are perpendicular their respective wall panels  16 ,  18 . The sidewall flaps  50 ,  56  are also folded inwardly. These sidewall flaps  50 ,  56  each have a fold line  59  thereby defining an adhering portion  61 . The adhering portion is configured to adhere to the respective bottom front flap  54  and bottom back flap  52 . This may be accomplished by placing an adhesive either on the adhering portion  61 , or on the respective flap  54 ,  52 . The adhesive may be any type of suitable adhesive such as moisture activated glue, or covered with a protective plastic sheet, or other type of adhesive such that the adhesive can be selectively activated to engage the adhering portions  61  with the flaps  52 ,  54 . As such, a user activates the adhesive and folds the bottom flaps  50 ,  56  and tucks the adhering portions  61  under the opposing bottom flap  50 ,  56 , such that the adhering portions  61  directly contact the underlying bottom front flap  54  and bottom back flap  52 . The result is an outer shell having a secure bottom that maintains the outer shell in an erected configuration. 
       FIG. 1 d    illustrates the formation of the top and handle  25  of the outer shell  3 . The top right handle flap  28 , which is secured to right side wall panel  20  along top right fold line  76 , is folded over across the rectangular opening so that the top right handle flap  28  is generally perpendicular to the right side wall  20  and the right handle portion  36  is folded upward from the top right handle flap  28  so that the right handle portion  36  is perpendicular to the top right handle flap  28 . 
     The top left handle flap  30  is folded down and the left handle portion  38 , which is also folded upright like the right handle portion  36 , cooperates with right handle portion  36 . The left handle portion tab  34 , which is cutout from underneath the left handle portion  38  is placed through the opening underneath the right handle portion  36  and over the right tab  32 . The left handle portion  38  is shown being folded over the right handle portion  36  and the distal tab  39  of the left handle portion  38  is slid under the proximal tab  34  of the left handle portion to form the handle  25  of the outer shell  3 . Top front flap  40  is folded over along top front fold line  74  onto the top right handle flap  28  and the top left handle flap  30 . The handle  25  is inserted through the open-ended slot  44 , thereby allowing the top front flap  40  to rest flat against the right and left handle flaps  28  and  30 . The top back flap  42  is folded over along top back fold line  78  onto the top front flap  40  and the top right and left handle flaps  28  and  30 . The handle  25  is inserted through the slot  46  of the top back flap  42 , allowing the top back flap  42  to rest flat against the top front flap  40  and the top right and left handle flaps  28  and  30 . The distal locking portion  43  of the top back flap  42  is inserted into a groove formed by the body of the mouth of the flexible bag so that the locking portion prevents the mouth from being pulled back into the outer shell  3  by the weight of the liquid when filled. The top front flap  40  and the top back flap  42  lock the handle flaps  28 ,  30  in place. Thus assembled, the handle  25  extends away from the outer shell  3  and defines an opening sized and shaped to receive the fingers of a hand. 
     The mouth defines a flow channel having a diameter of about ¾ inches, or 1 inch, or 1¼ inches. Consequently, the typical user is able to visually determine when the level of fluid in the bag is close to the bottom of the mouth and can cut off the flow of fluid into the container  10 . To operate effectively in this prior art design, the bag is sized such that when the level of fluid in the container is observed approaching the bottom of the mouth, the container is positioned with its back wall panel  18  faced downward in a fill position and when the container  10  is rotated to rest on its bottom  23  with the handle  25  facing up, in a transporting position, the level of fluid in the bag is preferably below the opening formed by the spout  9  or mouth, to reduce the risk of spilling during transport and the risk of injury to the user from spillage of hot coffee when the spout is opened. As a result, the container is used with a significant amount of empty space within the pyramidal structure. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a blank utilized to create the beverage container of  FIG. 3 . Although typical blank material is paperboard, numerous other similar foldable materials are suitable including formed pulp paper, bagasse, and microflute or other corrugated board material. The blank  108  has five principal panels,  116 ,  118 ,  120 ,  122 , and  124  separated by fold lines. At the lower end of each principal panel is a bottom flap,  126 ,  128 ,  130 ,  132  and  134  respectively. Top flaps  136 ,  138 ,  140 , and  142  are attached by fold lines to the first four of the panels. Slots  170 ,  171 , and  172  are placed on or adjacent to fold lines to mate with tabs  166 ,  167 , and  168  respectively when the blank is folded into its container shape. When assembled, as reflected in the sectional view of  FIG. 3 a   , the center bottom panel  130  is on the bottom and the right top panel  136  is on the top and mouth  107  of bag  105  extends through slot  146  and aperture  148  to communicate a contents of bag  105  to the outside of the container  110 .  FIG. 3 b    shows that in assembling the blank  108  to form the container  110  the center panel  120  can rest on the surface while adjacent panels  118  and  122  are positioned vertically at approximately 90 degree angles to center panel  120  and bottom flaps  128  and  132  are interlocked with their notches  161 ,  162 . Then top flaps  138 ,  142  are folded to a position perpendicular with their respective panels,  118 ,  122 . Slotted top flap  140  is folded over flaps  138 ,  142  so that a portion  140   a  is above and distal portion  140   b  is below, those top side flaps. It can be seen that the contours of top side flaps  138 ,  142  are cut to match the shape of slot  146  and flap  140  is folded along fold line  145 . Then protective flap  134  is folded inward along fold line  125  to a position adjacent to openings  150  and bag  5  is placed within the container with its neck  107  fitting in the slot  146 . Right panel  124  is closed over the bag to a position parallel to center panel  120  and left panel  116  is folded over on top of panel  124  and tabs  166   a,    166   b  are inserted in slots  170  to secure the peripheral structure of container  110 . Then flap  126  is folded beneath the base formed by notched flaps  128 ,  132  and center flap  130  is folded on top of flap  126  and tab  167  is inserted in slot  172  to secure the base of container  110 . Finally, top flap  136  is folded over the neck of bag  105  so that it extends through opening  148  which restrains the position of the neck within slot  146 . Tab  168  is inserted into slot  171  to secure the top structure of container  110 . The opening  158  in panel  124  allows tab  167  is pass through slot  172  and not be interfered with by a portion of panel  124 . The container  110  is gripped through opening  154  where segments  151  are held along fold line  152  and fold downward through openings  150  and panel  124  and against the protective panel  134  that is interposed between bag  105  and the handle area. 
       FIG. 4  shows an alternative blank  208  with five body panels  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222  and  224  is assembled in a similar fashion to the blank of  FIG. 2 . However, with the blank  208  of  FIG. 4 , after forming the three sided container with its central panel  220  and adjacent panels  218 ,  222  extending at a 90 degree angle to central panel  220 , left panel  216  is folded over and right panel  224  is attached by adhesive  204  to panel  216 . In this fashion, the general shape of the container  210  is formed as shown in  FIG. 5 a   . Then the container is completed by folding protective flap  234  inward to adjacent panel  224 , by interlocking bottom flaps  228 ,  232  with notches  261  and  262 , and by folding center bottom flap  230  across the bottom and inserting tab  267 . Then a bag, such as  105  shown in  FIG. 3 a   , is inserted into the top of the box and the neck is captured in slots  248   a,    248   b  as top flaps  238 ,  242  are folded downward. Finally, top center flap  240  is closed on top of the mouth  107  of bag  105  and tab  268  inserted within the edge of the container  210 . 
     Many other variations are possible, including a glued box assembly similar to that described in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 6 a   , box  410  has a bottom with bottom flap fold lines  459 , where a section  461  of bottom panels  450 ,  456  is glued to form a relatively permanent structure.  FIG. 6 b    shows a variety of sizes of containers  510 ,  110 ,  610  and  710 , showing that containers may be optimized for packing in standard box sizes as shown in  FIG. 9 . Containers  510  and  710  show the mouth  107  extending from the container and being closed with cap  706 ,  506 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a blank  308  similar to the blank of  FIG. 2 , however configured to create a handle  351  that extends outward from the resulting container  310  as shown in  FIG. 8 f   . The principal distinction from blank  108  is that the left panel  316  has two slots  353  and the right panel  324  has two slots  350 . In addition, rather than a protective panel  134 , right panel  324  has a handle forming panel  334 . Thus, it can be seen in  FIG. 8 a   , when the sidewalls are formed by vertically positioning panels  318 ,  322 , the bottom flap of right panel  324  is the handle panel  334  with D-shaped handle components  351  on either side of center  355 . As reflected in  FIG. 8 b   , the handle portions are inserted through slots  350  and panel  324  is closed the fourth wall of the container. Then panel  316  is placed on top with handles  351  passing through slots  353  as reflected in  FIGS. 8 c  and 8 d   . Finally left bottom flap  326  is closed on the base and center bottom flap  330  is closed with tab  367  interfitting in slot  372 . 
     If a vendor is receptive to using preassembled containers, there is no reason that a flexible bag is required to hold the liquid in the container. Since the containers no longer have to be collapsed, a relatively rigid, and non-collapsible carton can be disposed within the preassembled container.  FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of an exemplary plastic carton  405  that may be disposed within the container, typically made of HDPE or similar material. The carton  405  will have a neck portion  409  preferably with threaded section  411  near the mouth to engage with a cap and providing access to pour liquid into the container. An optimized container configuration has upper shoulder  419  and lower shoulder  421  about a handle recess  417  which is bridged by gripping bar  415  in the illustrated embodiment. 
       FIG. 10 b    is a side plan view of the carton  405  showing the cylindrical spout  409  with opening allowing access to the hollow body with arcuate recess  417  and gripping bar  415  extending across the recess. 
       FIG. 10C  is a schematic drawing of a carton  405   a  with no gripping bar, but the recess  417  still being provided to the facilitate gripping through the outer box structure and with the box structure serving as a carrying handle. 
     The use of a relatively rigid carton to hold the liquid also allows that carton structure to assist with managing the handling of the container. Not only can gripping bar  415  be utilized on the container for handling when pouring, but a cap or lid attached to threads  411  may also facilitate upright carriage of the carton and liquid.  FIG. 11A  is an exemplary cap  480  for a carton with a loop handle  482  attached to lid  481  defining an opening  483 . The cap  480  can be screwed on at the threaded cylindrical mouth  409  of the plastic carton  405  after filling the carton  405  and the loop  482  provides a convenient, and relatively insulated, handle or grasping portion for carrying the filled container.  FIG. 11B  is an alternative exemplary cap  490  for a carton with a T-handle structure where post  492  protrudes from lid  491  and crossbar  493  across the post  492  forms a handle that is readily grasped. 
       FIG. 12  is the exterior of an exemplary blank  508  for use when the container will be preassembled and glued. In this blank  508 , there is no need for many of the tabs shown in alternative blanks because the blank will be glued together before shipment to the retailer. The blank  508  has four principal body panels  516 , 518 , 520  and an attachment or glue panel  522  separated by fold lines,  504 , 506 , 508 , and  502 . The principal body panels are preferably in the shape of isosceles trapezoids, with upper edges relatively shorter and parallel to lower edges, but other trapezoidal shapes are possible. At the lower end of each principal body panel is a bottom flap,  526 , 528 , 530 , 532  respectively. Top flaps  536 , 538 , 540  and  542  are attached by fold lines  537 , 539 , 541  and  543  to the principal panels. Slots  571  and  572  are placed on or adjacent to fold lines to mate with tabs  568 , 567  respectively when the blank is folded into its container shape. 
     When assembled as reflected in  FIG. 13 , the center bottom panel  530  is on the bottom and the right top panel  536  is on the top and the neck  409  of carton  405  extends through space between top flaps  538 , 542  and openings  546  and  548  in top flaps  536 , 540  to communicate interior of carton  405  to the exterior of the container  510 . Bottom flaps  526 , 528 , 530 , 532  are folded along lines  517 , 519 , 521  and  523 , typically so that half panels  528 , 532  are adjacent the carton  405  and then covered by panel  526  and finally locked in place by panel  530  and the insertion of tab  567  into slot  572 . Alternatively, bottom flaps may be glued in place. The pyramidal body formed of four principal panels,  516 , 518 , 520 , 522  is held in place by glue or other adhesive  504  on attachment panel  566  that attaches to the interior of panel  522 . In order to facilitate grasping the carton  510 , two openings  554  are provided in body panel  516 , formed by folding ovals  551  along fold lines  552  toward the interior of the carton. Preferably the carton  405  inside the box has a grasping bar  415  that is located between the openings  554  to allow easy manipulation of the container  510  for pouring of liquids from the carton. Shown in phantom are opening  580  and slot  581  which may be cut from blank  508  to provide for a viewport  580  shown in  FIG. 13 . When carton  405  is within container  510 , viewport  580  allows a user to view the top portion of and determine the fill level of carton  405  and prevent accidental spills. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates the use of a cardboard blank  433  with notches  437 , 439  to fit within the handle recess  417  of carton  405 . The notches  437 , 439  are utilized to secure the heat shield  433  on the gripping bar  415  extending across the handle recess of the carton. The illustrated heat shield  433  is made of corrugated board having a backing sheet  431  with air filled corrugations  441  helping to space the backing sheet  431  away from the carton  405  and providing an insulating layer of air. It will be understood that foams and other insulating materials can suitably be utilized in place of corrugated board. 
     All publications, patents and patent documents are incorporated by reference herein as though individually incorporated by reference. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in detail herein, it will be understood that various substitutions and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as recited in the appended claims.