Carton for articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567120-B2
Application number	US-201514970863-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2015
Priority date	Dec 16, 2014
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise at least a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel. At least one end flap can comprise at least a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel at an end of the carton. The end can have an opening adjacent the bottom end flap. The plurality of articles can be for being disposed in the interior of the carton so that a void is formed in the interior between at least one article of the plurality of articles and at least a portion of the bottom end flap at the end.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel; and
a plurality of end flaps comprising at least a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel, a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second side end flap foldably connected to the second side panel, the end flaps of the plurality of end flaps at least partially overlapping one another at an end of the carton, the end having an opening adjacent the bottom end flap;
wherein the plurality of articles is for being disposed in the interior of the carton so that a void is formed in the interior between at least one article of the plurality of articles and at least a portion of the bottom end flap at the end.

2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the opening extends at least partially between the bottom end flap and the top panel.

3. The carton of claim 2 , further comprising a handle adjacent the opening, the handle comprising a handle flap foldably connected to the top panel, wherein the handle flap is for being folded with respect to the top panel and disposed between the top panel and the at least one article.

4. The carton of claim 3 , wherein the handle flap is foldably connected to the top panel along a curved fold line that is generally concave with respect to the end of the carton.

5. The carton of claim 4 , wherein the articles of the plurality of articles are for being arranged in a plurality of rows comprising at least a first row and a second row, the first row comprises at least one more article than the second row, the second row is nested with the first row, and at least a portion of the handle is for at least partially extending over the second row.

6. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the top panel comprises a curved edge adjacent the handle, the curved edge is generally convex with respect to the end of the carton, and the curved edge is for extending adjacent an end article of the first row, the end article for being disposed adjacent the bottom end flap.

7. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of rows further comprises a third row and a fourth row, the third row comprises at least one more article than the fourth row, the fourth row is nested with the third row, and at least a portion of the handle is for being at least partially extending over the fourth row.

8. The carton of claim 7 , wherein the top panel comprises two curved edges, each being generally convex with respect to the end of the carton, the handle flap is disposed between the two curved edges, and each curved edge of the two curved edges is for extending adjacent an end article of the respective first row and third row.

9. The carton of claim 1 , further comprising a handle extending in at least the bottom end flap and the bottom panel adjacent the void.

10. The carton of claim 9 , wherein the handle comprises a first handle panel foldably connected to the bottom panel and a second handle panel foldably connected to the first handle panel and foldably connected to the bottom end flap.

11. The carton of claim 10 , wherein the at least one article is spaced apart from the bottom end flap by a distance, and the second handle panel has a width that is approximately equal to the distance.

12. The carton of claim 10 , wherein the first handle panel and the second handle panel extend at least partially into the void so that the handle at least partially forms a corner void in the bottom panel and the bottom end flap for grasping the handle.

13. The carton of claim 12 , wherein the first handle panel extends into the interior of the carton and is substantially perpendicular to the bottom panel and substantially parallel to the bottom end flap, and the second handle panel extends into the interior of the carton and is substantially perpendicular to the bottom end flap and substantially parallel to the bottom panel.

14. The carton of claim 10 , wherein the first handle panel and the second handle panel are at least partially separable from the bottom panel along a line of weakening.

15. The carton of claim 9 , wherein the articles of the plurality of articles are for being arranged in a plurality of rows comprising at least a first row and a second row, the first row comprises at least one more article than the second row, the second row is nested with the first row, and at least a portion of the handle is for at least partially extending adjacent the second row.

16. The carton of claim 15 , wherein the at least one article is disposed at an end of the second row so that the second row is for being spaced apart from the bottom end flap at the void, and at least a portion of the handle is for being disposed in the void adjacent the at least one article.

17. The carton of claim 9 , wherein the handle is a lower handle, and the carton further comprises an upper handle comprising a handle flap foldably connected to the top panel adjacent the opening.

18. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the bottom end flap at least partially overlaps the first side end flap and the second side end flap at the end of the carton to partially close the end adjacent the opening.

19. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the articles of the plurality of articles are for being arranged in a plurality of rows comprising at least a first row and a second row, the first row comprises at least one more article than the second row, the second row is nested with the first row, and the side end flap is for at least partially engaging an article at an end of the first row.

20. A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least a top panel, and a side panel;
at least one end flap comprising at least a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel at an end of the carton, the end having an opening adjacent the bottom end flap, wherein the plurality of articles is for being disposed in the interior of the carton so that a void is formed in the interior between at least one article of the plurality of articles and at least a portion of the bottom end flap at the end; and
a handle extending in at least the bottom end flap and the bottom panel adjacent the void, the handle comprising a first handle panel foldably connected to the bottom panel and a second handle panel foldably connected to the first handle panel and foldably connected to the bottom end flap;
wherein the first handle panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel along a first fold line, the second handle panel is foldably connected to the bottom end flap along a second fold line, and the handle comprises a plurality of lateral fold lines each extending from the first fold line to the second fold line.

21. A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
a plurality of panels comprising at least a bottom panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, a top panel foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel; and
a plurality of end flaps comprising at least a bottom end flap foldably a

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Inc

Inventors

• Spivey Sr Raymond R
• Moncrief Frank N
• Bates Aaron Lee
• Alexander O'Neal

Classifications

• B65D2571/0066

  formed from one single sheet · CPC title

• B65D2571/00574

  whereby contents can still be carried after the line has been torn · CPC title

• B65D2571/00456

  integral with the wrapper · CPC title

• B65D2571/00141

  glued · CPC title

• B65B7/16 Primary

  Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons · CPC title