Carton and carton blank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101918-A1
Application number	US-201414786404-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2014
Priority date	Apr 23, 2013
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A carton includes a top wall ( 12 a/ 12 b ), first side wall ( 14 ), second side wall ( 18 ), first end wall, a second end wall and a bottom wall ( 16 ). The carton has a handle structure (H) defined at least in part in an outer panel ( 12 b ) and at least in part in an inner panel ( 12 a ). The outer panel is disposed in overlapping relationship with the inner panel to form the top wall. The outer panel includes an outer handle strap ( 30 ) while the inner panel includes an inner handle strap ( 32 ). The outer handle strap is continuously formed with the outer panel at its first end and severably attached to the outer panel at its second end by a frangible connection ( 46 ). The inner handle strap includes a first end disposed in the inner panel and continuously formed with the inner panel.

First claim

1 . A carton for packaging one or more articles, the carton comprising a plurality of walls including a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, at least an end wall, and a bottom wall, the carton further comprising a handle structure, the handle structure comprising an outer handle strap and an inner handle strap, the outer handle strap being defined at least in part in an outer panel of the top wall, and the inner handle strap being defined at least in part in an inner panel of the top wall, the outer panel being disposed in at least partially overlapping relationship with the inner panel to form the top wall, the outer handle strap having first and second opposed ends and being continuously formed with the outer panel at the first end and severably attached by a frangible connection to the outer panel at the second end, the inner handle strap comprising a first end disposed in the inner panel and continuously formed with the inner panel, the inner handle strap comprising a second end disposed in the at least one end wall, the outer handle strap being secured to the inner handle strap, the handle structure comprising a central portion defined by the outer handle strap, the central portion being displaceable out of the plane of the top wall upon severance of the frangible connection, the carton further comprising an access device formed at least in part from the top wall, the access device being disposed adjacent to the first end of the outer handle strap.

2 . The carton according to claim 1 wherein the handle structure further comprises a reinforcing strap hinged to the inner handle strap.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The carton according to claim 2 wherein the reinforcing strap is struck at least in part from the inner panel.

5 . The carton according to claim 1 wherein the at least one end wall comprises a top end closure panel and a first side end closure panel, the first side end closure panel having a first cutaway portion configured and arranged to expose an end portion of the inner handle strap.

6 . The carton according to claim 5 wherein the at least one end wall further comprises a second side end closure panel, the second side end closure panel having a second cutaway portion configured and arranged to expose the end portion of the inner handle strap.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The carton according to claim 1 wherein the access device comprises a detachable portion of the top wall.

9 . The carton according to claim 8 wherein the at least one end wall comprises first end second opposed end walls, and the access device further comprises a detachable portion of the first side wall, a detachable portion of the second side wall and a detachable portion of the first end wall so as to form a removable corner portion.

10 . The carton according to claim 1 wherein the outer handle strap is defined in the outer panel by at least one outer handle apertures having one end, wherein a portion of the inner panel adjacent to the first end of the inner handle strap comprises a reinforcing tab extending transversely of the length of the inner handle strap, the reinforcing tab being shaped and dimensioned such that a reinforcing edge of the reinforcing tab is positioned in general alignment with the one end of the at least one outer handle aperture.

11 . The carton according to claim 10 wherein the reinforcing tab extends away from a fold line connecting between the inner panel and one of the side walls.

12 . The carton according to claim 10 wherein the outer panel comprises a recess defined therein along a free side edge thereof, the recess being complementary in shape and size to the reinforcing tab.

13 . The carton according to claim 12 wherein the recess is provided by forming from the outer panel a reinforcing tab of another like carton.

14 . The carton according to claim 10 wherein the inner panel comprises an end recess at one end thereof adjacent to the reinforcing tab, the end recess generally registering with part of the access device in the outer panel so as to facilitate separation of the access device from the carton.

15 . The carton according to claim 14 wherein the shape and dimension of the end recess is such that an edge of the end recess extends at least in part along an outline of the access device.

16 . A blank comprising a plurality of panels for forming a carton which includes a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, at least one end wall, and a bottom wall, the plurality of panels of the blank include inner and outer panels and a top end closure panel, the inner and outer panels being disposed in at least partially overlapping relationship to form the top wall when the blank is erected into a carton, the end closure panel providing at least a part of the at least one end wall when the blank is erected into a carton, the blank further comprising a handle structure including inner and outer handle straps, the outer handle strap being defined at least in part in the outer panel, and the inner handle strap being defined at least in part in the inner panel, the outer handle strap having first and second opposed ends and being continuously formed with the outer panel at the first end and severably attached by a frangible connection to the outer panel at the second end, the inner handle strap comprising a first end disposed in the inner panel and continuously formed with the inner panel, the inner handle strap comprising a second end disposed in the top end closure panel, the outer handle strap being arranged to be securable to the inner handle strap, the handle structure having a central portion defined by the outer handle strap, the central portion, in a set-up carton, is displaceable out of the plane of the outer panel upon severance of the frangible connection, the blank further comprising an access device defined at least in part in the outer panel and at least in part in the inner panel, the access device being disposed adjacent to the first end of the outer handle strap.

17 . The blank according to claim 16 wherein the access device comprises a detachable portion of the top wall.

18 . The blank according to claim 17 wherein the at least one end wall comprises first end second opposed end walls of a carton, and the access device further comprises a detachable portion of the first side wall, a detachable portion of the second side wall and a detachable portion of the first end wall so as to form a removable corner portion.

19 . The blank according to claim 16 wherein the outer handle strap is defined in the outer panel by at least one outer handle aperture having one end, wherein a portion of the inner panel adjacent to the first end of the inner handle strap comprises a reinforcing tab extending transversely of the length of the inner handle strap, the reinforcing tab being shaped and dimensioned such that a reinforcing edge of the reinforcing tab is positioned in general alignment with the one end of the at least one outer handle aperture.

20 . The blank according to claim 19 wherein the outer panel comprises a recess defined therein along a free side edge thereof, the recess being complementary in shape and size to the reinforcing tab.

21 . The blank according to claim 19 wherein the inner panel comprises an end recess at one end thereof adjacent to the reinforcing tab, the end recess generally registering with part of the access device in the outer panel so as to facilitate separation of the access device from the carton.

22 . The blank according

Assignees

• Westrock Packaging Systems Llc

Inventors

• Bates Aaron L
• Loftin Caleb S
• Ball Nathaniel B
• Ramsuer Brandon L

Classifications

• B65D2571/00524

  integral · CPC title

• B65D2571/00469

  Straps made between two handholes · CPC title

• B65D71/36 Primary

  {having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with} end walls · CPC title

• B65D5/443

  Integral reinforcements, e.g. folds, flaps (double walls B65D5/02) · CPC title

• B65D2571/0066

  formed from one single sheet · CPC title