Carton With Reinforcement Features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016137336-A1
Application number	US-201514940695-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton includes at least one top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a bottom panel. A plurality of end flaps is foldably connected to a respective panel to close an end of the carton. The carton includes reinforcement features at the end of the carton to increase the strength of the carton.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A carton for carrying a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
a plurality of panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and bottom panel; a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels for closing an end of the carton, wherein at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps has reinforcement features for increasing the strength of the carton, the reinforcement features comprises a distal portion of the at least one end flap that is positioned between at least two articles of the plurality of articles.

2 . The carton of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement features comprise a base portion foldably connected to the first side panel.

3 . The carton of claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement features comprises an intermediate portion foldably connected to the base portion and the distal portion.

4 . The carton of claim 3 , wherein the base portion is positioned at an oblique angle relative to the intermediate portion.

5 . The carton of claim 4 , wherein the distal portion is positioned generally perpendicular to the intermediate portion.

6 . The carton of claim 2 , wherein the distal portion is positioned generally perpendicular to the base portion.

7 . The carton of claim 6 , wherein the distal portion is foldably connected to the base portion at a line of weakening, the line of weakening comprises two fold lines and a cut extending between the fold lines.

8 . The carton of claim 5 , wherein the distal portion is foldably connected to the intermediate portion at a line of weakening, the line of weakening comprises two fold lines and a cut extending between the fold lines.

9 . The carton of claim 2 , wherein the at least one end flap is a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap and a second top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel and a first bottom end flap and a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel.

10 . The carton of claim 9 , wherein the first top end flap and the first bottom end flap are in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the first side end flap.

11 . The carton of claim 9 , wherein the reinforcement features comprises an intermediate portion foldably connected to the base portion and the distal portion, the first top end flap and the first bottom end flap are in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the intermediate portion.

12 . The carton of claim 11 , wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first oblique edge, the bottom panel comprises a second oblique edge, and the base portion of the first side end flap conforms to the first oblique edge and the second oblique edge and forms a corner of the carton that is oblique relative to the first side panel.

13 . The carton of claim 10 , wherein the base portion is positioned generally perpendicular to the first side panel and forms a corner of the carton that is orthogonal relative to the first side panel.

14 . A blank for forming a carton for carrying a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a bottom panel; a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels for closing an end of the carton formed from the blank, wherein at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps has reinforcement features for increasing the strength of the carton, the reinforcement features comprising a distal portion of the at least one end flap that is positioned between at least two articles of the plurality of articles when the carton is formed from the blank.

15 . The blank of claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement features comprise a base portion foldably connected to the first side panel.

16 . The blank of claim 15 , wherein the reinforcement features comprises an intermediate portion foldably connected to the base portion and the distal portion.

17 . The blank of claim 16 , wherein the base portion is positioned at an oblique angle relative to the intermediate portion when the carton is formed from the blank.

18 . The blank of claim 17 , wherein the distal portion is positioned generally perpendicular to the intermediate portion when the carton is formed from the blank.

19 . The blank of claim 15 , wherein the distal portion is positioned generally perpendicular to the base portion when the carton is formed from the blank.

20 . The blank of claim 19 , wherein the distal portion is foldably connected to the base portion at a line of weakening, the line of weakening comprises two fold lines and a cut extending between the fold lines.

21 . The blank of claim 18 , wherein the distal portion is foldably connected to the intermediate portion at a line of weakening, the line of weakening comprises two fold lines and a cut extending between the fold lines.

22 . The blank of claim 15 , wherein the at least one end flap is a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, the plurality of end flaps comprises a first top end flap and a second top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel and a first bottom end flap and a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel.

23 . The blank of claim 22 , wherein the first top end flap and the first bottom end flap are configured to be in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the first side end flap when the carton is formed from the blank.

24 . The blank of claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement features comprise an intermediate portion foldably connected to the base portion and the distal portion, the first top end flap and the first bottom end flap are configured to be in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the intermediate portion when the carton is formed from the blank.

25 . The blank of claim 24 , wherein the at least one top panel comprises a first oblique edge, the bottom panel comprises a second oblique edge, and the base portion of the first side end flap conforms to the first oblique edge and the second oblique edge and forms a corner of the carton that is oblique relative to the first side panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

26 . The blank of claim 23 , wherein the base portion is positioned generally perpendicular to the first side panel and forms a corner of the carton that is orthogonal relative to the first side panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

27 . A method of forming a carton for carrying a plurality of articles, the method comprising:
obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least one top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and bottom panel, a plurality of end flaps each foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, wherein at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps has reinforcement features for increasing the strength of the carton, the reinforcement features comprising a distal portion of the at least one end flap; positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton; closing an end of the carton by at least partially overlapping the plurality of end flaps; and

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Inc

Inventors

• Oliveira Steven M

Classifications

• B65D5/06

  with end-closing or contents-supporting elements formed by folding inwardly a wall extending from, and continuously around, an end of the tubular body · CPC title

• B65D5/0254 Primary

  with end closures formed by inward folding of flaps and securing them by means of a tongue integral with one of the flaps · CPC title

• B65D5/544

  and defining after rupture a lid hinged about a line located in the top surface of the container · CPC title

• B65D5/10

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

• B65D5/4608

  Handgrip holes · CPC title