Carton with reinforcement features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630736-B2
Application number	US-201514940695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2015
Priority date	Nov 17, 2014
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

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 a bottom panel;
the plurality of articles being in the interior of the carton and comprising a first layer of articles supported by the first side panel and a second layer of articles on top of the first layer of articles and adjacent the second side panel;
a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels for closing an end of the carton, the plurality of end flaps comprising a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel, a bottom end flap foldably connected 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 top end flap and the bottom end flap being in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the first side end flap, and the second side end flap overlapping at least a portion of the first side end flap to close the end of the carton, the first side end flap has reinforcement features for increasing the strength of the carton, the reinforcement features comprise a distal portion of the first side end flap that is positioned between a first article of the first layer of articles and a second article of the second layer of articles, the distal portion being generally parallel to the first side panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the first side end flap comprises a base portion foldably connected to the first side panel.

3. The carton of claim 2 , wherein the first side end flap 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 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.

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

8. The carton of claim 7 , 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.

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

11. 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.

12. The carton of claim 9 , wherein the first side end flap comprises an intermediate portion foldably connected to the base portion and the distal portion and 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.

13. The carton of claim 12 , 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.

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

15. The carton of claim 14 , wherein the second side end flap is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the first side end flap.

16. The carton of claim 1 , wherein the second side end flap is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of an exterior surface of the first side end flap.

17. A blank for forming a carton for carrying a plurality of articles arranged in a first layer of articles and a second layer of articles on top of the first layer 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, the first side panel supporting the first layer of articles in an interior of the carton formed from the blank and the second side panel being adjacent the second layer of articles in the carton formed from the blank;
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, the plurality of end flaps comprising a top end flap foldably connected to the at least one top panel, a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel, a first side end flap foldably connected to the first side panel, and a second side end flap foldably connected the second side panel, the top end flap and the bottom end flap are for being in face-to-face contact with an interior surface of the first side end flap, and the second side end flap is for overlapping at least a portion of the first side end flap to close the end of the carton formed from the blank, the first side end flap has reinforcement features for increasing the strength of the carton, the reinforcement features comprising a distal portion of the first side end flap that is for being positioned between a first article of the first layer of articles and a second article of the second layer of articles, the distal portion being generally parallel to the first side panel when the carton is formed from the blank.

18. The blank of claim 17 , wherein the first side end flap comprises a base portion foldably connected to the first side panel.

19. The blank of claim 18 , wherein the first side end flap comprises an intermediate portion foldably connected to the base portion and the distal portion.

20. The blank of claim 19 , wherein the base portion is positioned at an oblique angle relative to the intermediate portion when the carton is formed from the blank.

21. The blank of claim 20 , wherein the distal portion is positioned generally perpendicular to the intermediate portion when the carton is formed from the blank.

22. The blank of claim 21 , 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.

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

24. The blank of claim 23 , 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

Assignees

• Graphic Packaging Int Inc

Inventors

• Oliveira Steven M

Classifications

• B65D5/10

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

• B65D5/544

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

• B65D5/0254 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

• B65D5/06

  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

• B65D5/4608

  Handgrip holes · CPC title