Cooler Carton With Zipper Opening Feature

• US 20090277954A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gomes, Jean-Manuel, De Paula, Andrea Coltri
• Granted Patent: US 8,136,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/240
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00567 defining a narrow removable strip
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00574 whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00635 Means for unlocking, e.g. for grasping and tearing the glued overlapping edge
• 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 5/0263 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps, three of them being formed of a continuous strip, the fourth being a separate flap
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/40 specially constructed to contain liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/5415 the lines of weakness being provided in one or more closure flaps and in the container body so as to form after rupture a lid hinged to a side edge of the container body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A paperboard carton doubles as a shipping container for articles such as beverage cans and a cooler for containing ice to cool the articles when the carton is opened. The top portion of the carton is breached by removing an opening strip defined by zipper rules. Once breached, the tops and side panels of the carton are opened up to form an upwardly open chimney or skirt into which ice can be placed to cool the contents of the carton. Gussets formed in the lower corners of the cartons insure that water from melting ice does not leak prematurely from the carton.

Claims

1. A carton comprising:

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

a first end panel;

a second end panel;

a carton opening feature comprising at least one tear strip;

wherein the at least one tear strip is defined between a first tear line and a second tear line;

the first tear line and the second tear line extending in the first end panel, in the top panel, and in the second end panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein a first top panel end flap is connected to the top panel along a first fold line and wherein a first bottom panel end flap is connected to the bottom panel along a second fold line.

3. The carton of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the first top panel end flap is disposed over at least a portion of the first bottom panel end flap in the first end panel.

4. The carton of claim 3 wherein the at least one tear strip includes a first tear strip that extends in the first top panel end flap and not into the first bottom panel end flap.

5. The carton of claim 1 wherein a second top panel end flap is connected to the top panel along a third fold line and wherein a second bottom panel end flap is connected to the bottom panel along a fourth fold line.

6. The carton of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of the second top panel end flap is disposed over at least a portion of the second bottom panel end flap in the second end panel.

7. The carton of claim 6 wherein the at least one tear strip includes a second tear strip that extends in the second top panel end flap and not into the second bottom panel end flap.

8. The carton of claim 1 wherein the at least one tear strip is separated by at least one finger flap.

9. The carton of claim 8 wherein the at least one finger flap separates the at least one tear strip into a first tear strip and a second tear strip.

10. A method of erecting a carton, comprising:

providing a carton blank having an upper side and an under side, the carton blank comprising;

a first side panel;

a bottom panel;

a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel at a first transverse fold line;

a first top panel foldably connected to the first side panel at a second transverse fold line;

a second top panel foldably connected to the second side panel;

a first bottom end panel at a first end of the bottom panel;

a second bottom end panel at a second end of the bottom panel;

at least one first top flap foldably connected to a first end of the first top panel at a first longitudinal fold line;

the at least one first top flap comprises a pair of first top flaps connected at a first oblique fold line;

at least one second top flap foldably connected to a second end of the first top panel at a second longitudinal fold line;

the at least one second top flap comprises a pair of second top flaps connected at a second oblique fold line;

at least one third top flap foldably connected to a first end of the second top panel at a third longitudinal fold line;

the at least one third top flap comprises a pair of third top flaps connected at a third oblique fold line;

at least one fourth top flap foldably connected to a first end of the second top panel at a fourth longitudinal fold line;

the at least one fourth top flap comprises a pair of fourth top flaps connected at a fourth oblique fold line;

folding the pair of first top flaps at the first oblique fold line and folding the pair of second top flaps at the second oblique fold line;

folding the pair of third top flaps at the third oblique fold line and folding the pair of fourth top flaps at the fourth oblique fold line;

folding the first top panel with respect to the first side panel about the second transverse fold line; and

,

folding the second side panel with respect to the bottom panel about the first transverse fold line.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, after folding the second side panel about the first transverse fold line:

gluing the blank to form a tubular structure; and

forming a top panel at least from the first top panel and the second top panel.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein gluing the blank to form a tubular structure comprises:

adhering the first top panel to the second top panel;

adhering the pair of first top flaps to the pair of third top flaps; and

adhering the pair of second top flaps to the pair of fourth top flaps.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

folding the at least one first top flap and the at least third top flap with respect to the top panel about the first longitudinal fold line and the third longitudinal fold line.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the carton blank further comprises:

at least one first side panel flap foldably connected to a first end of the first side panel at a fifth longitudinal fold line;

at least one second side panel flap foldably connected to a second end of the first side panel at a sixth longitudinal fold line;

at least one third side panel flap foldably connected to a first end of the second side panel at a seventh longitudinal fold line;

at least one fourth side panel flap foldably connected to a second end of the second side panel at an eighth longitudinal fold line;

wherein the first bottom panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel along a ninth longitudinal fold line; and

wherein the second bottom panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel along a tenth longitudinal fold line.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

folding the at least one first side panel flap with respect to the first side panel about the fifth longitudinal fold line;

folding the at least one third side panel flap with respect to the second side panel about the seventh longitudinal fold line.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one first side panel flap comprises a pair of first side panel flaps connected at a fifth oblique fold line and wherein the at least one third side panel end flap comprises a pair of third side panel flaps connected at a sixth oblique fold line, and wherein folding the at least one first side panel flap with respect to the first side panel about the fifth longitudinal fold line comprises folding one of the pair of first side panel flaps about the fifth oblique fold line and wherein folding the at least one third side panel flap with respect to the second side panel about the seventh longitudinal fold line comprises folding one of the pair of third side panel end flaps about the seventh oblique fold line.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

folding the first bottom end panel with respect to the bottom panel along the ninth longitudinal fold line, and

gluing the first bottom end panel to the at least one first top flap and to the at least one third top flap.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

folding the at least one first top flap and the at least third top flap with respect to bottom panel about the first longitudinal fold line and the third longitudinal fold line to close a first end of the carton.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

at least partially closing a second end of the tubular structure.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein, after folding the at least one first top flap and the at least third top flap with respect to the top panel about the first longitudinal fold line and the third longitudinal fold line, the method further comprises:

loading the tubular structure with a plurality of containers.

21. A carton formed from a blank, the blank comprising:

a first side;

the first side comprising a first panel and a second panel;

a second side;

a third side;

a fourth side;

a fifth side;

a sixth side;

a carton opening feature comprising a first tear strip and a second tear strip separated by at least one finger flap;

wherein the first tear strip is defined between a first tear line and a second tear line;

the first tear line and the second tear line extending in the first side and in the fifth side; and

,

wherein the second tear strip is defined between a third tear line and a fourth tear line;

the third tear line and the fourth tear line extending in the first side and in the sixth side.

22. In combination, the carton of claim 21 and a plurality of cylindrical containers.