Carton with expansion features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10246213-B2
Application number	US-201715448806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Mar 4, 2016
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

A carton for holding one or more containers includes a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to the respective plurality of panels to form at least one closed end of the carton, and at least one gusset foldably connected between the at least one side panel and the at least one closed end of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a bottom panel, a top panel, and at least one side panel. The at least one gusset is positionable between a first position and a second position wherein the interior of the carton is expanded.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carton for holding one or more containers, comprising:
a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a top panel, and at least one side panel;
a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to the respective plurality of panels to form at least one closed end of the carton;
at least one gusset foldably connected between the at least one side panel and the at least one closed end of the carton, the at least one gusset comprising a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel, the at least one gusset further comprising a tab extending from the first gusset panel to at least partially define a notch in the at least one gusset, the at least one gusset is positionable between a first position and a second position wherein the interior of the carton is expanded; and
a handle feature in at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps, wherein the notch aligns with the handle feature in the at least one closed end of the carton.

2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first gusset panel is attached to at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps at the at least one closed end of the carton, and the second gusset panel is movable relative to the first gusset panel.

3. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the second gusset panel is larger than the first gusset panel.

4. The carton of claim 1 , wherein, in the first position, the at least one side panel and the at least one closed end are spaced apart a first distance, and in the second position, the at least one side panel and the at least one closed end are spaced apart a second distance that is larger than the first distance.

5. The carton of claim 1 , wherein in the first position, the interior of the carton has a first volume, and in the second position, the interior of the carton has a second volume that is larger than the first volume.

6. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel comprises a first side panel and a second side panel, the at least one closed end of the carton comprises a first closed end and second closed end, the at least one gusset comprises a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel and the first closed end, a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel and the first closed end, a third gusset foldably connected to the first side panel and the second closed end, and a fourth gusset panel foldably connected to the second side panel and the second closed end.

7. The carton of claim 1 , wherein at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps, the at least one gusset, and the at least one side panel cooperate to form a bottom receptacle of the carton.

8. The carton of claim 7 , wherein the bottom receptacle has a substantially liquid-tight configuration.

9. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the second gusset panel comprises an expansion panel foldably connected to the first gusset panel.

10. The carton of claim 9 , wherein the expansion panel further comprises a first oblique fold line foldably connecting the first gusset panel and the second gusset panel, the second gusset panel comprises a second oblique fold line, and the expansion panel is at least partially defined by the first oblique fold line and the second oblique fold line.

11. The carton of claim 10 , wherein the angular distance between the first oblique fold line and the second oblique fold line is between about 1 degree and about 30 degrees.

12. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the top panel comprises at least one access feature.

13. The carton of claim 12 , wherein the at least one access feature comprises a plurality of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel, each access flap separable from an adjacent access flap along a respective tear line.

14. The carton of claim 13 , wherein the at least one access feature comprises a dispenser panel separable from the top panel.

15. A blank for forming a carton for holding one or more containers, comprising:
a plurality of panels for folding at least partially around an interior of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprising a bottom panel, a top panel, and at least one side panel;
a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to the respective plurality of panels for folding to form at least one closed end of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank; and
at least one gusset foldably connected between the at least one side panel and the at least one closed end of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank, the at least one gusset comprises a first gusset panel foldably connected to a second gusset panel, the at least one gusset further comprises a tab extending from the first gusset panel to at least partially define a notch in the at least one gusset, the at least one gusset is positionable between a first position and a second position wherein the interior of the carton is expanded; and
a handle feature in at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps, and wherein the notch aligns with the handle feature in the at least one closed end of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank.

16. The blank of claim 15 , wherein the first gusset panel is for attachment to at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps at the at least one closed end of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank, and the second gusset panel is movable relative to the first gusset panel.

17. The blank of claim 15 , wherein the second gusset panel is larger than the first gusset panel.

18. The blank of claim 15 , wherein, when the carton is formed from the blank, in the first position, the at least one side panel and the at least one closed end are spaced apart a first distance, and in the second position, the at least one side panel and the at least one closed end are spaced apart a second distance that is larger than the first distance.

19. The blank of claim 15 , wherein, when the carton is formed from the blank, in the first position, the interior of the carton has a first volume, and in the second position, the interior of the carton has a second volume that is larger than the first volume.

20. The blank of claim 15 , wherein the at least one side panel comprises a first side panel and a second side panel, the at least one closed end of the carton comprises a first closed end and second closed end when the carton is formed from the blank, the at least one gusset comprises a first gusset foldably connected to the first side panel and the first closed end when the carton is formed from the blank, a second gusset foldably connected to the second side panel and the first closed end when the carton is formed from the blank, a third gusset foldably connected to the first side panel and the second closed end when the carton is formed from the blank, and a fourth gusset panel foldably connected to the second side panel and the second closed end when the carton is formed from the blank.

21. The blank of claim 15 , wherein at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps, the at least one gusset, and the at least one side panel are for cooperating to form a bottom receptacle of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank.

22. The blank of claim 21 , wherein the bottom receptacle has a substantially liquid-tight configuration.

23. The blank of claim 15 , wherein the second gusset panel comprises an expansion panel foldably connected to the first

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Inc
• Graphic Packaging Int Llc

Inventors

• Ayerst Robert

Classifications

• B65D5/563

  Laminated linings; Coatings · CPC title

• B65D2571/00141

  glued · CPC title

• B65D5/10

  with end closures formed by inward-folding of self-locking flaps hinged to tubular body · CPC title

• B65D2571/00728

  the end walls being closed by gluing · CPC title

• B65D5/40

  specially constructed to contain liquids · CPC title