Reinforced package

• US 9,771,176 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Kastanek, Raymond S., Fitzwater, Kelly R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US15/217,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20160325877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 22911734, 22911732, 22911705, 2291173, 22911727, 229902, 229904, 493 99, 493100
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0227 with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by heat-sealing, by applying adhesive to the flaps or by staples
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/606 Bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container

Abstract

A reinforced package comprising a carton comprising a plurality of panels that can comprise a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel. A bag can be attached to the carton and can have an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product. The carton can be positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased. The carton can support the bag in the erect position and can have retention features for retaining the carton in the erect position.

Claims

1. A reinforced package, comprising:

a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least the first side panel along a second fold line; and

a bag attached to the carton, the bag having an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product;

wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position, and one or more of the first side panel and the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position, the retention features comprising the first fold line, the second fold line, and a longitudinal fold line extending in the first side panel from the first fold line to the second fold line, the longitudinal fold line being spaced from a bottom end of the carton.

2. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal fold line is a first longitudinal fold line, the second side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a third fold line and is foldably connected to the at least one back panel along a fourth fold line, the retention features further comprising the third fold line, the fourth fold line, and a second longitudinal fold line extending in the second side panel from the third fold line to the fourth fold line.

3. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises two oblique portions extending from a respective first vertex and second vertex, the first vertex and the second vertex extends into the respective front panel and at least one back panel, and the longitudinal fold line extends from the first vertex to the second vertex.

4. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line extending in the first side panel, the first panel portion and the second panel portion being folded along the lateral fold line to at least partially overlap one another in the non-erect position.

5. A reinforced package, comprising:

a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel; and

a bag attached to the carton, the bag having an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product;

wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position, and the first side panel and the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position, wherein the carton further comprises a bottom wall comprising a bottom panel and a bottom flap each foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the at least one back panel.

6. The reinforced package of claim 5, wherein the bottom wall is folded outwardly with respect to the front panel and the at least one back panel when the carton is in the non-erect position.

7. The reinforced package of claim 5, wherein the bottom flap comprises a first bottom flap, the bottom wall comprises a second bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom panel along a fold line, the second bottom flap being at least partially adhered to the first bottom flap, and the bottom wall is folded along the fold line so that the first bottom flap and the bottom panel at least partially overlap one another when the carton is in the non-erect position.

8. The reinforced package of claim 7, wherein the fold line is spaced apart from the front panel and the at least one back panel in the non-erect position.

9. A reinforced package, comprising:

a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel; and

a bag attached to the carton, the bag having an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product;

wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position, and the first side panel and the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position; and

wherein the carton further comprises support features extending from at least one panel of the plurality of panels, the support features comprising at least a first support and a second support respectively extending from at least one of the front panel, the at least one back panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel.

10. The reinforced package of claim 9, wherein the first support extends downwardly from the front panel and the second support extends downwardly from the at least one back panel.

11. The reinforced package of claim 10, wherein the carton further comprises a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel and a bottom flap foldably connected to the at least one back panel, the first support extends adjacent to a first opening in the bottom panel, and the second support extends adjacent to a second opening in the bottom flap.

12. The reinforced package of claim 11, wherein the support features comprise at least one side support extending downwardly from each of the first side panel and the second side panel.

13. The reinforced package of claim 9, wherein the first support extends downwardly from the first side panel and the second support extends downwardly from the second side panel.

14. The reinforced package of claim 13, wherein each of the first side panel and the second side panel comprises an oblique edge extending from the respective first support and second support.

15. The reinforced package of claim 9, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first lateral fold line extending in the first side panel, and the first support extends from the first panel portion and the second support extends from the second panel portion.

16. The reinforced package of claim 15, wherein the first panel portion comprises a first oblique edge and the second panel portion comprises a second oblique edge, the first oblique edge extending from an end of the first lateral fold line to the first support and the second oblique edge extending from the end of the first lateral fold line to the second support, the first support, the first oblique edge, the second oblique edge, and the second support at least partially defining a recess in the first side panel.

17. The reinforced package of claim 15, wherein the support features further comprise a front support extending from the front panel and a back support extending from the at least one back panel, the first support being spaced apart from the second support by a first recess in the first side panel, the front support being spaced apart from the first support by a second recess in the front panel, and the back support being spaced apart from the second support by a third recess in the at least one back panel.

18. The reinforced package of claim 15, wherein the second side panel comprises a third panel portion foldably connected to a fourth panel portion along a second lateral fold line extending in the second side panel, and the support features further comprise a third support extending from the third panel portion and a fourth support extending from the fourth panel portion.

19. The reinforced package of claim 18, wherein the first side panel comprises a first recess extending between the first support and the second support and the second side panel comprises a second recess extending between the third support and the fourth support.

20. In combination, a carton blank and a bag for forming a reinforced package for holding a product:

the carton blank being for forming a carton, the carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least the first side panel along a second fold line;

the bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product, the bag being at least partially attached to the carton blank;

wherein the reinforced package formed from the carton blank and the bag is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, and the first side panel and the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton formed from the carton blank in the erect position, the retention features comprising the first fold line, the second fold line, and a longitudinal fold line extending in the first side panel from the first fold line to the second fold line, the longitudinal fold line being spaced apart from a bottom end of the carton blank.

21. The combination of claim 20, wherein the longitudinal fold line is a first longitudinal fold line, the second side panel is foldably connected to the front panel along a third fold line and is foldably connected to the at least one back panel along a fourth fold line, the retention features further comprising the third fold line, the fourth fold line, and a second longitudinal fold line extending in the second side panel from the third fold line to the fourth fold line.

22. The combination of claim 20, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises two oblique portions extending from a respective first vertex and second vertex, the first vertex and the second vertex extends into the respective front panel and at least one back panel, and the longitudinal fold line extends from the first vertex to the second vertex.

23. The combination of claim 20, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line extending in the first side panel, the first panel portion and the second panel portion being folded along the lateral fold line to at least partially overlap one another in the non-erect position when the reinforced package is formed from the carton blank and the bag.

24. In combination, a carton blank and a bag for forming a reinforced package for holding a product:

the carton blank being for forming a carton, the carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, and

the bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product, the bag being at least partially attached to the carton blank;

wherein the reinforced package formed from the carton blank and the bag is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, the first side panel and the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton formed from the carton blank in the erect position, and the carton blank further comprises a bottom panel and a bottom flap each foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the at least one back panel, the bottom panel and the bottom flap at least partially forming a bottom wall in the carton formed from the carton blank.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the bottom wall is for being folded outwardly with respect to the front panel and the at least one back panel when the carton is in the non-erect position when the reinforced package is formed from the carton blank and the bag.

26. The combination of claim 24, wherein the bottom flap comprises a first bottom flap, the carton blank comprises a second bottom flap foldably connected to the bottom panel along a fold line, the second bottom flap is for being at least partially adhered to the first bottom flap when the carton is formed from the carton blank, and the bottom wall is for being folded along the fold line so that the first bottom flap and the bottom panel at least partially overlap one another when the carton is in the non-erect position when the reinforced package is formed from the carton blank and the bag.

27. In combination, a carton blank and a bag for forming a reinforced package for holding a product:

the carton blank being for forming a carton, the carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel; and

the bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product, the bag being at least partially attached to the carton blank;

wherein the reinforced package formed from the carton blank and the bag is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, the first side panel and the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton formed from the carton blank in the erect position, and

wherein the carton blank further comprises support features extending from at least one panel of the plurality of panels, the support features comprising at least a first support and a second support respectively extending from at least one of the front panel, the at least one back panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel.

28. The combination of claim 27, wherein the first support extends from the front panel and the second support extends from the at least one back panel.

29. The combination of claim 28, wherein the carton blank further comprises a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel and a bottom flap foldably connected to the at least one back panel, the first support is at least partially separable from the bottom panel along a first cut line, and the second support is at least partially separable from the bottom flap along a second cut line.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein the support features comprise at least one side support extending from each of the first side panel and the second side panel.

31. The combination of claim 27, wherein the first support extends from the first side panel and the second support extends from the second side panel.

32. The combination of claim 31, wherein each of the first side panel and the second side panel comprises an oblique edge extending from the respective first support and second support.

33. The combination of claim 27, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first lateral fold line extending in the first side panel, and the first support extends from the first panel portion and the second support extends from the second panel portion.

34. The combination of claim 33, wherein the first panel portion comprises a first oblique edge and the second panel portion comprises a second oblique edge, the first oblique edge extending from an end of the first lateral fold line to the first support and the second oblique edge extending from the end of the first lateral fold line to the second support, the first support, the first oblique edge, the second oblique edge, and the second support at least partially defining a recess in the first side panel.

35. The combination of claim 33, wherein the second side panel comprises a third panel portion foldably connected to a fourth panel portion along a second lateral fold line extending in the second side panel, and the support features further comprise a third support extending from the third panel portion and a fourth support extending from the fourth panel portion.

36. The combination of claim 35, wherein the first side panel comprises a first recess extending between the first support and the second support and the second side panel comprises a second recess extending between the third support and the fourth support.

37. A method of forming a reinforced package comprising:

obtaining a carton blank at least partially attached to a bag, the carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel along a first fold line, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, and at least one back panel foldably connected to at least the first side panel along a second fold line, and the bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product;

forming an interior of a carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels by folding the plurality of panels at least partially around the bag;

wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, and the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position, and the first side panel, the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position, the retention features comprising the first fold line, the second fold line, and a longitudinal fold line extending in the first side panel from the first fold line to the second fold line, the longitudinal fold line being spaced from a bottom end of the carton.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a first lateral fold line extending in the first side panel, the second side panel comprises a third panel portion foldably connected to a fourth panel portion along a second lateral fold line extending in the second side panel, and the folding the plurality of panels comprises folding the second panel portion and the fourth panel portion along the respective first lateral fold line and the second lateral fold line so that the second panel portion at least partially overlaps the first panel portion, the fourth panel portion at least partially overlaps the third panel portion, and the at least one back panel at least partially overlaps the bag.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line extending in the first side panel, and the first panel portion is foldably connected to the front panel along the first fold line, the second panel portion is foldably connected to the at least one back panel along the second fold line.

40. A method of forming a reinforced package comprising:

obtaining a carton blank at least partially attached to a bag,

the carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the front panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the front panel, at least one back panel foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel, a first support extending from the front panel, a second support extending from the at least one back panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the front panel, and a bottom end flap foldably connected to the at least one back panel;

the bag comprising an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space for holding a product;

forming an interior of a carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels by folding the plurality of panels at least partially around the bag;

wherein the carton is positionable in a non-erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is at least partially collapsed and in an erect position wherein the interior space of the bag is increased, and the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position, and the first side panel, the second side panel have retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position;

the method further comprises forming a bottom wall of the carton, the bottom wall comprising at least the bottom panel and the bottom flap; and

moving the carton from the non-erect position to the erect position comprises folding the bottom panel and the bottom flap with respect to the respective front panel and at least one back panel so that the bottom wall extends at least partially across a bottom of the carton in the erect position, the first support at least partially separating from the bottom panel along a first cut line and the second support at least partially separating from the bottom flap along a second cut line during the folding the bottom panel and the bottom flap.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the carton blank further comprises at least one side support extending from each of the first side panel and the second side panel.