Carton

• US 20110101078A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Gonzalez, Ana, Requena, Emili
• Granted Patent: US 8,439,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/117.13
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00469 Straps made between two handholes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00543 consisting of cut-outs, slits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00753 the end walls being closed by interlocking
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00845 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00864 Lines of weakness for separating into subgroups
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0025 the corner posts being formed as a prolongation of a doubled-over extension of the side walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/28 with extensions of sides permanently secured to adjacent sides, with sides permanently secured together by adhesive strips, or with sides held in place solely by rigidity of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/6664 combined with flaps or tabs provided at the side edges of the lid
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/263 for ventilating the contents B65D5/4295, B65D51/1605 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/34 for fruit, e.g. apples, oranges or tomatoes

Abstract

A blank, carton, or package including a handle formed in a top panel is described. Deformation lines can be included on the blank or carton to allow the handle to flex, thereby increasing handle strength. The blank can include corner-forming panels attached to end flaps that can be used to form corners in the formed carton or package. The corners provide reinforcement strength to allow stacking of the cartons or packages, such as on pallets or during shipment. Openings can be provided in select areas of the blank, carton, or package to allow ventilation to and from the interior of the carton or package. Connecting panels in the top panel can be removed to dispense articles from the carton or package.

Claims

1. A carton comprising:

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a top panel;

a bottom panel;

an adhesive panel;

the top panel including a handle and a plurality of connecting panels;

a plurality of deformation lines in at least two of the first side panel, the second side panel, and the adhesive panel;

wherein the carton deforms along at least some of the deformation lines on lifting of the handle.

2. The carton of claim 1 wherein each end of the top panel includes end flaps, and wherein the plurality of deformation lines include deformation lines in each of the top panel end flaps.

3. The carton of claim 2 wherein the handle and plurality of connecting panels are spaced apart by openings.

4. The carton of claim 3 wherein the first side panel and the top panel are connected along a first transverse fold line.

5. The carton of claim 4 wherein the openings extend to, but not across, the first transverse fold line.

6. The carton of claim 4 wherein the openings extend from the top panel, across the first transverse fold line, and into one of the top panel end flaps.

7. The carton of claim 1 wherein the handle and plurality of connecting panels are spaced apart by openings.

8. The carton of claim 7 wherein the first side panel and the top panel are connected along a first fold line.

9. The carton of claim 8 wherein the openings extend to, but not across, the first fold line.

10. The carton of claim 8 wherein the openings extend from the top panel, across the first fold line, and into the first side panel.

11. The carton of claim 1 wherein first end flaps are connected along a first transverse fold line to the first side panel at a first end of the carton, and wherein the first end flaps include corner forming end flaps that form a first corner at the first end of the carton.

12. The carton of claim 11 wherein second end flaps are connected along a second transverse fold line to the first side panel at a second end of the carton, and wherein the second end flaps include corner forming end flaps that form a second corner at the second end of the carton.

13. The carton of claim 12 wherein third end flaps are connected along the first transverse fold line to the second side panel at the first end of the carton, and wherein the third end flaps include corner forming end flaps that form a third corner at the first end of the carton.

14. The carton of claim 13 wherein fourth end flaps are connected along the second transverse fold line to the second side panel at the second end of the carton, and wherein the fourth end flaps include corner forming end flaps that form a fourth corner at the second end of the carton.

15. The carton of claim 14 wherein openings are provided in at least two of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel.

16. The carton of claim 1 wherein openings are provided in at least two of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel.

22. The blank of claim 1 wherein the first end flap includes corner-forming flaps that form a first corner at a first end of a carton formed from the blank.

23. The blank of claim 22 wherein the second end flap includes corner-forming flaps that form a second corner at the first end of a carton formed from the blank.

17. A blank comprising:

a first side panel connected along a first fold line to a top panel;

the top panel connected along a second fold line to a second side panel;

the second side panel connected along a third fold line to a bottom panel;

the bottom panel connected along a fourth fold line to an adhesive panel;

the top panel including a handle and a plurality of connecting panels spaced apart by openings;

a first end flap connected along a first transverse fold line to the first side panel;

a first top panel end flap connected along the first transverse fold line to the top panel;

a second end flap connected along the first transverse fold line to the second side panel;

a first bottom panel end flap connected along the first transverse fold line to the bottom panel;

at least one end flap connected along a second transverse fold line to at least one of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel;

a plurality of deformation lines in at least two of the first side panel, the second side panel, the adhesive panel, and the first top panel end flap;

wherein a carton formed from the blank deforms along at least a plurality of the deformation lines on lifting of the handle.

18. The blank of claim 17 wherein the openings extend to, but not across, the first transverse fold line.

19. The blank of claim 17 wherein the openings extend from the top panel, across the first transverse fold line, and into the first top panel end flap.

20. The blank of claim 17 wherein the openings extend to, but not across, the first fold line.

21. The blank of claim 17 wherein the openings extend from the top panel, across the first fold line, and into the first side panel.

24. The blank of claim 17 wherein openings are provided in at least two of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel.

28. A carton formed from the blank of claim 17.

29. A package comprising a plurality of containers and a carton formed from the blank of claim 17.

25. A method of forming a carton comprising:

providing a blank, the blank comprising;

a first side panel connected along a first fold line to a top panel;

the top panel connected along a second fold line to a second side panel;

the second side panel connected along a third fold line to a bottom panel;

the bottom panel connected along a fourth fold line to an adhesive panel;

the top panel including a handle and a plurality of connecting panels spaced apart by openings;

a first end flap connected along a first transverse fold line to the first side panel;

a first top panel end flap connected along the first transverse fold line to the top panel;

a second end flap connected along the first transverse fold line to the second side panel;

a first bottom panel end flap connected along the first transverse fold line to the bottom panel;

at least one end flap connected along a second transverse fold line to at least one of the first side panel, the top panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel;

a plurality of deformation lines in at least two of the first side panel, the second side panel, the adhesive panel, and the first top panel end flap;

wherein the carton formed from the blank deforms along at least a plurality of the deformation lines on lifting of the handle;

folding the first side panel along the first fold line;

folding the second side panel along the second fold line;

folding the top panel along the third fold line;

folding the adhesive panel along the fourth fold line;

securing the adhesive panel to the first side panel;

folding the first end flap and the second end flap along the first transverse fold line;

folding the first bottom end flap along the first transverse fold line;

folding the first top end flap along the first transverse fold line; and

,

securing at least one of the first end flap, the second end flap, the first bottom flap, and the first top end flap together.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the first end flap includes corner-forming flaps that form a first corner at a first end of a carton formed from the blank, and wherein folding the first end flap along the first transverse fold line includes folding the first end flap corner-forming flaps to form a first reinforcing corner.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the second end flap includes corner-forming flaps that form a second corner at the first end of a carton formed from the blank, and wherein folding the second end flap along the first transverse fold line includes folding the second end flap corner-forming flaps to form a second reinforcing corner.