Beverage cooler carton

• US 20040040334A1
• Filed: 08/27/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MillerCoors LLC (Molson Coors Beverage Co.)
• Original Assignee: Coors Global Properties, Inc. (Molson Coors Beverage Co.)
• Inventors: Rusnock, Kevin R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,945,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/371
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00493 attached to the wrapper
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00574 whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/082 disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0841 external to the container for a beverage, e.g. a bottle, can, drinking glass or pitcher
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0843 on the side of the product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/805 Cans
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A beverage cooler carton is provided which is intended to receive ice or other cooling means to keep contents packaged therein cool. The carton is made of a material which is impervious to liquid which may be contained within the carton during use. The carton includes folding end panels which extend continuously between adjacent upper and lower panels; therefore, there are no seams or breaks in the material around a periphery of the carton which might degrade the ability of the carton to hold a liquid. Also disclosed is a method of assembling the cooler carton.

Claims

1. A carton for holding a plurality of products such as beverages, said carton comprising:

a plurality of panels including opposing front and rear panels, opposing upper and lower panels, and opposing end panels, said plurality of panels when assembled forming the carton enclosing an interior open space;

said end panels each including an upper flap attached to said front panel, and a lower flap attached to said rear panel;

a foldable flap attached to each of said lower panels;

said front panel being substantially planar, and a plurality of perforations formed thereon defining an access opening when said perforations are broken to expose said interior open space; and

wherein said rear panel, said upper and lower panels, and said end panels form a continuous and unbroken liquid containment area for holding an amount of liquid therein.

2. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of perforations define a plurality of access panels which are foldable away from said front panel and which communicate with said access opening.

3. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said top panel includes a handle attached thereto.

4. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each said foldable flap includes an upper side flap having an edge connected to its adjacent upper or lower panel, and a lower side flap having an edge connected to said lower flap.

5. A carton, as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said foldable flap includes a diagonal fold defining an interface between said upper side flap and said lower side flap, said diagonal fold allowing said upper and lower side flaps to be folded against one another when said lower flap is folded towards said carton.

6. A carton, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said upper side flap includes a notch formed thereon facilitating folding of said upper side flap against said lower side flap.

7. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said carton includes a liquid level line defining a recommended maximum fill line for liquid in said carton.

8. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said carton is made from a single sheet of pre-cut material.

9. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said carton is made of composite material including a substrate and a liquid impermeable film bonded to said substrate.

10. A carton, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said liquid impermeable film includes a polyethylene film.

11. A carton, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said liquid impermeable film is bonded to said substrate by a polyethylene extrudate.

12. A carton, as claimed in claim 2, further including:

a tab located between at least two opposing access panels and connected to a third access panel.

13. A carton, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said carton further includes a plurality of slots positioned on edges of said front panel and said opposing end panels to facilitate draining of leaking containers or condensation, or to prevent overfilling during use.

14. A carton for holding a plurality of products such as beverages, said carton comprising:

a plurality of panels including opposing front and rear panels, opposing upper and lower panels, and opposing end panels, said plurality of panels when assembled forming said carton container enclosing an interior open space;

said front panel being substantially planar, and a plurality of perforations formed thereon defining an access opening when said perforations are broken to expose said interior open space; and

means for forming a liquid containment area to hold a quantity of liquid and preventing the liquid from escaping the carton.

15. A carton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said plurality of perforations define a plurality of access panels which are foldable away from said front panel and which communicate with said access opening.

16. A carton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said top panel includes a handle attached thereto.

17. A carton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said end panels each include an upper flap attached to said front panel, a lower flap attached to said rear panel, and a pair of foldable flaps attached to said lower panels, each said foldable flap including an upper side flap having an edge connected to its adjacent upper or lower panel, and a lower side flap having an edge connected to said lower flap.

18. A carton, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

each said foldable flap includes a diagonal fold defining an interface between said upper side flap and said lower side flap, said diagonal fold allowing said upper and lower side flaps to be folded against one another when said lower flap is folded towards said carton.

19. A carton, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said upper side flap has a notch formed thereon to facilitate folding of said upper side flap against said lower side flap.

20. A carton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said container includes a liquid level line defining a recommended maximum fill line for liquid in said carton.

21. A carton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said carton is made of a single sheet of pre-cut material.

22. A carton, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said carton is made of a composite material including a substrate and a water impermeable film bonded to said substrate.

23. A carton, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said water impermeable film is a polyethylene film bonded to said substrate by a polyethylene extrudate.

24. A carton, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said front panel further includes a tab located between at least two of said access panels and connected to a third access panel.

25. A carton, as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

said carton further includes a plurality of slots positioned on edges of said front panel and said opposing end panels to facilitate draining of leaking containers or condensation, or to prevent overfilling during use.

26. A carton for holding a plurality of products such as beverages, said carton comprising:

a plurality of panels formed from a single sheet of material, said material being liquid impervious;

said plurality of panels including opposing front and rear panels, opposing upper and lower panels, and opposing end panels, said plurality of panels when assembled forming the carton enclosing an interior open space;

said rear panel, and lower portions of said upper, lower, and end panels defining a continuous and unbroken liquid containment area; and

said front panel being substantially planar, and said front panel having a plurality of perforations formed thereon defining an access opening when said perforations are broken to expose said interior open space.

27. A carton, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said material includes a liquid impermeable membrane applied thereto to make said material liquid impermeable.

28. A carton, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said carton further includes a plurality of slots positioned on edges of said front panel and said opposing end panels to facilitate draining of leaking containers or condensation, or to prevent overfilling during use.

29. A method of assembling a beverage cooler carton and providing access to the contents of the carton, said method comprising the steps of:

providing precut material including a plurality of score lines;

securing opposite ends of the material and connecting said opposite ends to form an upper panel of the carton;

folding the material along designated score lines to define front, rear, and lower panels of the carton;

further folding the material along other designated score lines to form a pair of opposing end panels, each said end panel including a plurality of flaps forming a continuous seal between the upper and lower panels;

accessing the interior of the carton by breaking score lines which are formed on the front panel, said score lines defining a plurality of access panels; and

folding the access panels to enlarge the access opening to optimize use of cooling means which are placed in direct contact with beverages within the carton.

30. A method, as claimed in claim 29, further including the step of:

constructing the material from at least two layers, said two layers including a substrate and a liquid impermeable membrane.

31. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein:

said material includes a substrate, and a polyethylene film bonded to said substrate.

32. A method, as claimed in claim 31, wherein:

said polyethylene film is bonded to said substrate by a polyethylene extrudate.

33. A method, as claimed in claim 29, wherein:

said perforations on said front panel further form a tab which separates adjacent access panels.