Patent Publication Number: US-7721878-B2

Title: Package for containers

Description:
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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       According to common practice, the various features of the drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a blank used to form a package according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an erection step for forming the first package embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an erection step for forming the first package embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an erection step for forming the first package embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the first package embodiment. 
     
    
    
     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. 1  is a plan view of a blank  8  used to form a carton or carrier  150  according to an embodiment of the invention. The carton  150  is illustrated in its erected state in  FIG. 5 , in which it is attached to upper portions of containers  170 , forming a package  200 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the blank  8  may be wholly or partially symmetric about a transverse centerline C T  and a longitudinal centerline C L . 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 to  FIG. 1 , the blank  8  comprises a first top panel  10  foldably connected to a first side panel  20  at a first transverse fold line  21 , a bottom panel  30  foldably connected to the first side panel  20  at a second transverse fold line  31 , a second side panel  40  foldably connected to the bottom panel  30  at a third transverse fold line  41 , and a second top panel  50  foldably connected to the second side panel  40  at a fourth transverse fold line  51 . 
     The bottom panel  30  includes six container-receiving patterns  80 . Three patterns  80  are arranged in a first row  34  and three patterns  80  are arranged in a second row  36  in the bottom panel  30 . Each container-receiving pattern  80  is shaped and sized to receive an upper portion of a container  170  that is to be held within the erected carton  150 . In the exemplary embodiment, six containers  170  are accommodated in the erected carton  150 , 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 pattern  80  includes a plurality of lines of disruption defining an outer strut  82  and an inner strut  84 . In each pattern  80 , the outer and inner struts  82 ,  84  are separated by a transverse cut  86 , and a longitudinal expansion cut  88  extends through a center portion of adjacent outer and inner struts  82 ,  84 . The sides of the struts  82 ,  84  are defined by side cuts  89 . The side cuts  89  may include curved or arcuate sections that may conform to the exterior profile of the containers C. In the first row  34 , the outer struts  82  are foldably attached at the transverse fold line  31 , and the inner struts  84  are foldably attached at a transverse fold line  66 . In the second row  36 , the outer struts  82  are foldably attached at the transverse fold line  41 , and the inner struts  84  are foldably attached at a transverse fold line  66 . 
     The bottom panel  30  is divided into a plurality of generally rectangular elongate panels  60 ,  64 ,  70 . The container-receiving patterns  80  in the first row  34  are formed in a first receiving panel  70  foldably connected to the first side panel  20  at the fold line  31 . The container-receiving patterns  80  in the second row  36  are formed in a second receiving panel  70  foldably connected to the second side panel  40  at the fold line  41 . A side brace panel  64  is foldably connected to an interior side of each receiving panel  70  at a transverse fold line  66 . A center brace panel  60  is foldably connected to an interior side of each side brace panel  64  at a transverse fold line  62 . The brace panels  60 ,  64  are foldable with respect to one another to form a brace in the erected carton  150 . 
     The transverse fold lines  21 ,  31 ,  41 ,  51 ,  62 ,  66  in the blank  8  can 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 lines  21 ,  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 blank  8 . The cuts may be partial cuts (e.g. kiss cuts), or 100% cuts extending through the entire thickness of the blank  8 . 
     The lines  86 ,  88 ,  89  defining the container-receiving patterns  80  are illustrated as continuous 100% cuts (e.g. slits) which extend through the entire thickness of the blank  8 . The lines  86 ,  88 ,  89  can be generally referred to as “breachable lines of disruption” that are intended to be breached during erection of the carton  150 . 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 lines  86 ,  88 ,  89 , the cuts may be, for example, interrupted by breachable nicks. Partial cuts, which do not extend through the entire thickness of the blank  8 , for example, may also be used. 
     An exemplary method of erection of the carton  150  to form the package  200  is discussed below with reference to  FIGS. 2-5 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an erection step of the carton  150  including its initial attachment to the containers  170 . Top portions of four containers  170 , including their flanges  175 , are inserted through the container-receiving patterns  80 , one container  170  per pattern  80 . Insertion of the containers  170  may serve to open up container apertures  85  in the receiving panels  70 . The container apertures  85  may, for example, have curved or arcuate sidewalls at each end that may generally conform in shape to the exterior profiles of the containers  170 . In  FIG. 2 , the containers  170  push the outer and inner struts  82 ,  84  upwardly so that they fold about the transverse fold lines  66 ,  31  or  41 , and extend generally upwardly from the receiving panels  70 . After insertion in the container-receiving patterns  80 , the underside of each container flange  175  rests on an upper edge  94  of an adjacent outer strut  82 , and an upper edge  90  of an adjacent inner strut  84 . The outer and inner struts  82 ,  84  can deform at the expansion cuts  88  as the struts deform around the curved upper portions of the containers  170 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the side brace panels  64  are pivoted upwardly about the transverse fold lines  62 ,  66  as the sides of the blank  8  are drawn inwardly. The center brace panel  60  folds with respect to the side brace panels  64  at the fold lines  62 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the side brace panels  64  are further pivoted upwardly about the transverse fold lines  66  as the sides of the blank  8  are drawn inwardly until the side brace panels  64  abut. The center portion of the blank  8  is thereby drawn upwardly into the interior of the carton  150  until the receiving panels  70  are adjacent or abutting one another. If desired, the side brace panels  64  may optionally be adhered together in the vicinity of the fold lines  66  where the side brace panels  64  abut. As the side brace panels  64  pivot upwardly and out of plane with the panels  70 , the center brace panel  60  moves upwardly until it abuts interior surfaces of the container flanges  175 . In this configuration, the side brace panels  64  and the center brace panel  60  form a brace  100 . The first and second side panels  20 ,  40  are pivoted inwardly about the transverse fold lines  31 ,  41  respectively, so that they extend generally upright. The second top panel  50  is folded about the transverse fold line  51  so that it extends over the tops of the containers  170  disposed within the second row  36  ( FIG. 1 ) of container apertures  85 . The first top panel  10  is then folded over the tops of the containers  170  disposed within the second row  34  of container apertures  85  and the underside of the top panel  10  is adhered to the upper side of the second top panel  50 .  FIG. 5  illustrates the carton  150  secured around the top portions of the containers  170 , forming a package  200 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the carton  150  is a generally tubular form with open ends. When viewed from the open ends of the carton  150 , the cross section of the carton  150  is generally rectangular, although the upright side panels  20 ,  40  can be tilted with respect to vertical so that the cross section is generally trapezoidal. The brace  100  extends through the center of the carton  150  and abuts interior surfaces of the container flanges  175 . When viewed from the open ends of the carton  150 , the brace  100  has a generally triangular cross section, with the center brace panel  60  extending across the top of the brace  100 . The center brace panel  60  exerts a bias against the inner surfaces of the flanges  175  and the side panels  20 ,  40  exert a bias on the outer surface of the flanges  175 . The opposing biases on the container flanges  175  are arranged to prevent the containers  170  from pivoting and/or otherwise translating within the carton  150 . The outer and inner struts  82 ,  84  exert upward biases on the undersides of the flanges  175  that prevent the containers  170  from inadvertently falling downwardly through the receiving apertures  85 . The outer and inner struts  82 ,  84  also further restrict pivoting and/or other translation of the containers  170  within the carton  150 . 
     According to one aspect of the above embodiment, containers  170  are securely retained by the side panels  20 ,  40 , the struts  82 ,  84  and by the brace  100  in the carton interior. The containers  170  are thereby secured against being pulled downwardly through the receiving panels  70 , and are also secured against excessive translation and/or pivoting within the carton  150 . 
     The exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  illustrates a carton  150  accommodating six containers  170  arranged in two rows and three columns. Additional columns, for example, may be added by increasing the width of the blank  8  (in the transverse direction in  FIG. 1 ) and forming additional columns of container-receiving patterns  80  in the bottom panel  30 . 
     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.