Reinforced package

• US 9,957,080 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kastanek, Raymond S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US15/630,061
• Publication Number:
  US 20170283111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 22911734, 22911732, 22911705, 2291173, 22911727, 229902, 229904, 493 99, 493100, 493128, 383 33, 383104
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2105/00 Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by assembling separate sheets, blanks or webs
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 2120/40 lined or internally reinforced
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/00 Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/72 by applying and securing strips or sheets
• 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 5/029 the tubular body presenting a special shape pyramidal B65D5/008
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4266 Folding lines, score lines, crease lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/443 Integral reinforcements, e.g. folds, flaps double walls B65D5/02
• 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 first side panel connected to a front panel along a first fold line, a back panel connected to the first side panel along a second fold line, and a second side panel connected to the front and/or back panels. The reinforced package further can comprise a bag that can have an at least partially open end, an at least partially closed end, and an interior space. The carton can be positionable in non-erect and erect positions, and the carton can be configured to support the bag in the erect position. The first and second side panels can comprise retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position, and the retention features can comprise at least a V-shaped fold line extending in the first side panel from the first fold line.

Claims

1. A reinforced package, comprising:

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

a bag at least partially 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, and the carton is configured to support the bag in the erect position;

wherein the first side panel and the second side panel comprise retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position, and the retention features comprise at least a V-shaped fold line extending from the first fold line and extending in the first side panel.

2. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the V-shaped fold line comprises a vertex that is spaced apart from the first fold line.

3. The reinforced package of claim 2, wherein the retention features further comprise a longitudinal fold line extending from the vertex of the V-shaped fold line and extending in the first side panel.

4. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line.

5. The reinforced package of claim 4, wherein the first fold line comprises an arcuate portion, a first oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion.

6. The reinforced package of claim 5, wherein the arcuate portion is an arcuate cut.

7. The reinforced package of claim 4, wherein the first fold line comprises a first oblique portion and a second oblique portion, the first end of the V-shaped fold line engages the first oblique portion of the first fold line, and the second end of the V-shaped fold line engages the second oblique portion of the first fold line.

8. The reinforced package of claim 7, wherein:

the V-shaped fold line is a first V-shaped fold line, and the second fold line comprises a third oblique portion and a fourth oblique portion; and

the retention features further comprise a second V-shaped fold line extending in the first side panel and having a third end that engages the third oblique portion of the second fold line and a fourth end that engages the fourth oblique portion of the second fold line.

9. The reinforced package of claim 7, wherein the retention features further comprise a longitudinal fold line extending from the V-shaped fold line and extending in the first side panel.

10. 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 lateral fold line, and the longitudinal fold line extends from the V-shaped fold line to at least the lateral fold line.

11. The reinforced package of claim 9, wherein a portion of the first side panel extends generally upwardly and outwardly from the longitudinal fold line and the V-shaped fold line and another portion of the first side panel extend generally downwardly and outwardly from the longitudinal fold line and the V-shaped fold line when the carton is in the erect position.

12. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the V-shaped fold line is a first V-shaped fold line, and the retention features further comprise a second V-shaped fold line extending from the second fold line and extending in the first side panel.

13. The reinforced package of claim 12, wherein a longitudinal fold line extends in at least the first side panel from the first V-shaped fold line to the second V-shaped fold line.

14. The reinforced package of claim 13, wherein the first V-shaped fold line comprises a first vertex and the second V-shaped fold line comprises a second vertex, and the longitudinal fold line extends from each of the first vertex and the second vertex.

15. The reinforced package of claim 13, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line, and the longitudinal fold line intersects the lateral fold line.

16. The reinforced package of claim 12, wherein the first V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line, and the second V-shaped fold line comprises a third end and a fourth end, each engaging the second fold line.

17. The reinforced package of claim 16, wherein the first fold line comprises a first oblique portion and a second oblique portion, the second fold line comprises a third oblique portion and a fourth oblique portion, the first end of the first V-shaped fold line engages the first oblique portion of the first fold line, the second end of the first V-shaped fold line engages the second oblique portion of the first fold line, the third end of the second V-shaped fold line engages the third oblique portion of the second fold line, and the fourth end of the second V-shaped fold line engages the fourth oblique portion of the second fold line.

18. 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, the V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line, V-shaped fold line comprises a vertex that is spaced apart from the lateral fold line by a first distance and from the first end by a second distance, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

19. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises an arcuate portion, a first oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion opposite to the first oblique portion.

20. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises a lateral portion, a first oblique portion extending from the lateral portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the lateral portion opposite to the first oblique portion.

21. The reinforced package of claim 1, wherein the carton further comprises a bottom end flap foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, a bottom fold line extends at least partially across the bottom end flap, and the bottom end flap is at least partially folded along the bottom fold line when the carton is in the non-erect position.

22. The reinforced package of claim 21, wherein the bottom end flap is a first bottom end flap, and the carton further comprises a second bottom end flap foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, and the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap are at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially form a bottom of the carton.

23. 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 back panel foldably connected to at least the first side panel along a second fold line, and a second side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel; and

the bag having 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;

wherein the first side panel and the second side panel comprise retention features for at least partially retaining the carton formed from the carton blank in the erect position, and the retention features comprise at least a V-shaped fold line extending from the first fold line and extending in the first side panel.

24. The combination of claim 23, wherein the V-shaped fold line comprises a vertex that is spaced apart from the first fold line.

25. The combination of claim 24, wherein the retention features further comprise a longitudinal fold line extending from the vertex of the V-shaped fold line and extending in the first side panel.

26. The combination of claim 23, wherein the V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line.

27. The combination of claim 26, wherein the first fold line comprises an arcuate portion, a first oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion.

28. The combination of claim 27, wherein the arcuate portion is an arcuate cut.

29. The combination of claim 26, wherein the first fold line comprises a first oblique portion and a second oblique portion, the first end of the V-shaped fold line engages the first oblique portion of the first fold line, and the second end of the V-shaped fold line engages the second oblique portion of the first fold line.

30. The combination of claim 29, wherein:

the V-shaped fold line is a first V-shaped fold line, and the second fold line comprises a third oblique portion and a fourth oblique portion; and

the retention features further comprise a second V-shaped fold line extending in the first side panel and having a third end that engages the third oblique portion of the second fold line and a fourth end that engages the fourth oblique portion of the second fold line.

31. The combination of claim 29, wherein the retention features further comprise a longitudinal fold line extending from the V-shaped fold line and extending in the first side panel.

32. The combination of claim 31, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line, and the longitudinal fold line extends from the V-shaped fold line to at least the lateral fold line.

33. The combination of claim 23, wherein the V-shaped fold line is a first V-shaped fold line, and the retention features further comprise a second V-shaped fold line extending from the second fold line and extending in the first side panel.

34. The combination of claim 33, wherein a longitudinal fold line extends in at least the first side panel from the first V-shaped fold line to the second V-shaped fold line.

35. The combination of claim 34, wherein the first V-shaped fold line comprises a first vertex and the second V-shaped fold line comprises a second vertex, and the longitudinal fold line extends from each of the first vertex and the second vertex.

36. The combination of claim 34, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line, and the longitudinal fold line intersects the lateral fold line.

37. The combination of claim 33, wherein the first V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line, and the second V-shaped fold line comprises a third end and a fourth end, each engaging the second fold line.

38. The combination of claim 37, wherein the first fold line comprises a first oblique portion and a second oblique portion, the second fold line comprises a third oblique portion and a fourth oblique portion, the first end of the first V-shaped fold line engages the first oblique portion of the first fold line, the second end of the first V-shaped fold line engages the second oblique portion of the first fold line, the third end of the second V-shaped fold line engages the third oblique portion of the second fold line, and the fourth end of the second V-shaped fold line engages the fourth oblique portion of the second fold line.

39. The combination of claim 23, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line, the V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line, the V-shaped fold line comprises a vertex that is spaced apart from the lateral fold line by a first distance and from the first end by a second distance, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

40. The combination of claim 23, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises an arcuate portion, a first oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion opposite to the first oblique portion.

41. The combination of claim 23, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises a lateral portion, a first oblique portion extending from the lateral portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the lateral portion opposite to the first oblique portion.

42. The combination of claim 23, wherein the carton blank further comprises a bottom end flap foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, a bottom fold line extends at least partially across the bottom end flap, and the bottom end flap is for being at least partially folded along the bottom fold line when the carton formed from the carton blank is in the non-erect position.

43. The combination of claim 42, wherein the bottom end flap is a first bottom end flap, the carton blank further comprises a second bottom end flap foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel, and the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap are for being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another to at least partially form a bottom of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank.

44. 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 back panel foldably connected to at least the first side panel along a second fold line, and a second side panel foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back 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;

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;

wherein the first side panel and the second side panel comprise retention features for at least partially retaining the carton in the erect position, and the retention features comprise at least a V-shaped fold line extending from the first fold line and extending in the first side panel.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the V-shaped fold line comprises a vertex that is spaced apart from the first fold line, and the retention features further comprise a longitudinal fold line extending from the vertex of the V-shaped fold line and extending in the first side panel.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line, the first fold line comprises a first oblique portion and a second oblique portion, the first end of the V-shaped fold line engages the first oblique portion of the first fold line, and the second end of the V-shaped fold line engages the second oblique portion of the first fold line.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein:

the V-shaped fold line is a first V-shaped fold line, and the retention features further comprise a second V-shaped fold line extending from the second fold line and extending in the first side panel;

the first V-shaped fold line comprises a first vertex and the second V-shaped fold line comprises a second vertex; and

a longitudinal fold line extends in at least the first side panel from the first vertex of the first V-shaped fold line to the second vertex of the second V-shaped fold line.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein a portion of the first side panel extends generally upwardly and outwardly from the longitudinal fold line and the V-shaped fold line and another portion of the first side panel extend generally downwardly and outwardly from the longitudinal fold line and the V-shaped fold line when the carton is in the erect position.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the first side panel comprises a first panel portion foldably connected to a second panel portion along a lateral fold line, the V-shaped fold line comprises a first end and a second end, each engaging the first fold line, the V-shaped fold line comprises a vertex that is spaced apart from the lateral fold line by a first distance and from the first end by a second distance, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises an arcuate portion, a first oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the arcuate portion opposite to the first oblique portion.

51. The method of claim 44, wherein each of the first fold line and the second fold line comprises a lateral portion, a first oblique portion extending from the lateral portion, and a second oblique portion extending from the lateral portion opposite to the first oblique portion.

52. The method of claim 44, wherein:

the carton blank further comprises a first bottom end flap foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel and a second bottom end flap foldably connected to at least one of the front panel and the back panel;

the forming the carton further comprises at least partially forming a bottom of the carton by at least partially overlapping the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap; and

a bottom fold line extends at least partially across the first bottom end flap, and the first bottom end flap is at least partially folded along the bottom fold line when the carton is in the non-erect position.