Carrier with handle features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12006116-B2
Application number	US-202217590258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2022
Priority date	Jan 23, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A carrier for holding at least one article includes a plurality of panels and a handle. The plurality of panels extends at least partially around an interior of the carrier, and the plurality of panels includes a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel. The handle includes at least one handle feature in the top panel. The at least one handle feature includes a plurality of foldably connected handle sections that includes a first outer section and a second outer section each foldably connected to a central section and such that the at least one handle feature is positionable between a first, substantially flat configuration and a second, substantially recessed configuration wherein the handle is activated for carrying the carrier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for forming a carrier for holding at least one article, the blank comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel; and
at least one handle feature in the top panel for forming a handle of the carrier formed from the blank,
the at least one handle feature comprises a plurality of foldably connected handle sections that comprises a first outer section and a second outer section each foldably connected to a central section, each of the first outer section, the second outer section, and the central section are foldably connected to a body portion of the top panel at a curved fold line, the central section tapers from the curved fold line to a free edge of the top panel.

2. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the curved fold line is convex relative to a longitudinal centerline of the top panel.

3. The blank of claim 2 , wherein the curved fold line has endpoints at a free edge of the top panel.

4. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the first outer section is foldably connected to the central section at a first curved fold line and the second outer section is foldably connected to the central section at a second curved fold line.

5. The blank of claim 4 , wherein each of the first curved fold line and the second curved fold line is convex relative to a lateral centerline of the top panel.

6. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the at least one handle feature further comprises a first tab foldably connected to the first outer section and a second tab foldably connected to the second outer section.

7. The blank of claim 6 , wherein the first tab and the second tab are separated from respective marginal portions of the first outer section and the second outer section at a respective cut.

8. The blank of claim 7 , wherein the respective cut is a respective curved cut.

9. The blank of claim 8 , wherein the respective curved cut at least partially defines a respective locking edge of the respective marginal portions.

10. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the at least one handle feature is a first handle feature and the central section is a first central section, and the handle comprises a second handle feature in the top panel, the second handle feature comprising a third outer section and a fourth outer section foldably connected to a second central section.

11. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side panel comprises a first upper side panel and a second upper side panel each foldably connected to the top panel.

12. The blank of claim 9 , wherein the at least one side panel further comprises a first lower side panel foldably connected to the first upper side panel and a second lower side panel foldably connected to the second upper side panel.

13. The blank of claim 1 , wherein the at least one handle feature is positionable between a first, substantially flat configuration and a second, substantially recessed configuration wherein the handle is activated for carrying the carrier formed from the blank.

14. A method of forming a carrier for holding at least one article, the method comprising:
obtaining a blank, the blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, and at least one side panel, the blank comprises at least one handle feature in the top panel for forming a handle, the at least one handle feature comprises a plurality of foldably connected handle sections that comprises a first outer section and second outer section each foldably connected to a central section, each of the first outer section, the second outer section, and the central section are foldably connected to a body portion of the top panel at a curved fold line, the central section tapers from the curved fold line to a free edge of the top panel; and
folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the carrier.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the curved fold line is convex relative to a longitudinal centerline of the top panel.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the curved fold line has endpoints at a free edge of the top panel.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first outer section is foldably connected to the central section at a first curved fold line and the second outer section is foldably connected to the central section at a second curved fold line.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the first curved fold line and the second curved fold line is convex relative to a lateral centerline of the top panel.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one handle feature further comprises a first tab foldably connected to the first outer section and a second tab foldably connected to the second outer section.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first tab and the second tab are separated from respective marginal portions of the first outer section and the second outer section at a respective cut.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the respective cut is a respective curved cut.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the respective curved cut at least partially defines a respective locking edge of the respective marginal portions.

23. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one handle feature is a first handle feature and the central section is a first central section, and the handle comprises a second handle feature in the top panel, the second handle feature comprising a third outer section and a fourth outer section foldably connected to a second central section.

24. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one side panel comprises a first upper side panel and a second upper side panel each foldably connected to the top panel.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the at least one side panel further comprises a first lower side panel foldably connected to the first upper side panel and a second lower side panel foldably connected to the second upper side panel.

26. The method of claim 14 , wherein the folding the plurality of panels comprises positioning the at least one handle feature between a first, substantially flat configuration and a second, substantially recessed configuration wherein the handle is activated for carrying the carrier.

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Llc

Inventors

• Smalley Brian

Classifications

• B65D2571/00456

  integral with the wrapper · CPC title

• B65D2571/00296

  consisting of at least a part of a wall conforming to the contents shape · CPC title

• B65D71/30 Primary

  unitary {, i.e. integral} with the tubular packaging elements · CPC title

• B65D2571/00728

  the end walls being closed by gluing · CPC title

• B65D2571/00277

  Slits or openings formed along a fold line · CPC title