U.S. patent application number 09/860843 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-21 for carton convertible into compartmented container.
Invention is credited to Oliff, James R..
Application Number | 20020170845 09/860843 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25334153 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020170845 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oliff, James R. |
November 21, 2002 |
Carton convertible into compartmented container
Abstract
A carton has a tubular structure that is separable along a
circumferential region of the carton into compartments joined by a
hinge member having spaced-apart lateral edges. In one embodiment,
the hinge member is substantially elliptical. In another
embodiment, an aperture is formed in the hinge member for lifting
the carton.
Inventors: |
Oliff, James R.;
(Douglasville, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE MEAD CORPORATION
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
4850D NORTH CHURCH LANE
SMYRNA
GA
30080
US
|
Family ID: |
25334153 |
Appl. No.: |
09/860843 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/749 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2571/00141
20130101; B65D 2571/00567 20130101; B65D 2571/00722 20130101; B65D
71/36 20130101; B65D 2571/0066 20130101; B65D 2571/00444 20130101;
B65D 5/542 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/749 |
International
Class: |
B65D 001/22 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A carton comprising a tubular wall structure separable along a
substantially longitudinal circumferential region into adjacent
compartments joined by a hinge member having spaced-apart lateral
edges.
2. The carton of claim 1, wherein said tubular wall structure
includes opposing first and second walls joined by opposing side
walls, said substantially longitudinal circumferential region
extends across said first wall and opposing end walls that join
said first, second and side walls, and said hinge member is
integrally formed with said second wall.
3. The carton of claim 1, wherein said substantially longitudinal
circumferential region is defined at least in part by a frangible
line.
4. The carton of claim 1, wherein said substantially longitudinal
circumferential region is defined at least in part by a frangible
line and a tear strip.
5. The carton of claim 1, wherein said hinge member facilitates
lifting.
6. The carton of claim 1, wherein said hinge member is
substantially elliptical.
7. The carton of claim 1, said hinge member having an aperture
formed therethrough to facilitate lifting.
8. The carton of claim 1, wherein said hinge member is
substantially elliptical and has an aperture formed therethrough to
facilitate lifting.
9. A carton comprising a tubular wall structure separable along a
substantially longitudinal circumferential region into adjacent
compartments joined by a substantially elliptical hinge member
having spaced-apart lateral edges and having an aperture defined
therethrough.
10. A blank for forming a carton the blank comprising a series of
adjoining panels for forming a tubular structure for the erected
carton, said panels having integrally formed therein a region of
separability transversely extending along portions of said panels
and a hinge-forming region having spaced-apart lateral edges such
that the erected tubular structure is separable along said region
of separability into compartments joined by a hinge member having
spaced-apart lateral edges.
11. The blank of claim 10, wherein said hinge-forming region and
said hinge member are substantially elliptical.
12. The blank of claim 10, wherein said hinge-forming region is
defined by weakened lines of demarcation.
13. The blank of claim 10, wherein said panels form opposing first
and second walls, opposing side walls and opposing end walls in the
erected carton, said region of separability is disposed such that
it extends across said first wall and opposing end walls of the
erected carton, and said hinge-forming region is formed in said
second wall.
14. The blank of claim 10, wherein said region of separability is
defined at least in part by a frangible line.
15. The blank of claim 10, wherein said region of separability is
defined at least in part by a frangible line and a tear strip.
16. The blank of claim 10, said hinge-forming region having an
aperture defined therethrough to facilitate lifting at said hinge
member.
17. A compartmented container comprising compartments joined by a
hinge member having spaced-apart lateral edges.
18. The compartmented container of claim 17, wherein said hinge
member is substantially elliptical.
19. The compartmented container of claim 17, said hinge member
having an aperture formed therethrough to facilitate lifting.
20. The compartmented container of claim 17, wherein said hinge
member is substantially elliptical and has having an aperture
formed therethrough to facilitate lifting.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] (Not applicable)
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] (Not applicable)
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The invention relates to cartons, and more specifically to
cartons for articles which cartons are convertible to compartmented
containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Consumers often have a need to retrieve an article from a
storage medium for the article. For example, an article such as a
beverage container is typically retrieved from an area where
multiples of the articles are stored. Typical storage areas for
such articles are food cabinets and pantries, refrigeration/cooling
devices and packages containing multiples of the articles. Articles
such as beverages in containers are typically purchased and
transported in a package containing multiples of the articles.
Thus, it can be appreciated that it would be useful to facilitate
removal of an article from a package in which multiples of the
articles are transported and/or stored.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
a carton has a tubular structure that is separable along a
circumferential region of the carton into compartments joined by a
hinge member having spaced apart lateral edges.
[0006] In accordance with another aspect of a preferred embodiment
of the invention, the hinge member is substantially elliptical.
[0007] In accordance with a further aspect of a preferred
embodiment of the invention an aperture is formed through said
hinge member to facilitate lifting.
[0008] In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a
compartmented container has compartments joined by a hinge member
having spaced-apart lateral edges.
[0009] In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention,
the hinge member is substantially elliptical.
[0010] In accordance with even a further aspect of the invention,
an aperture is formed through said hinge member to facilitate
lifting.
[0011] Other advantages and objects of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description, the accompanying
drawings, and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton
convertible into a compartmented container, in accordance with the
teachings of a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an isometric illustration of a carton convertible
into a compartmented container formable from the blank of FIG. 1,
in accordance with the teachings of a preferred embodiment of the
invention, wherein of a tear strip has been partially removed;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an illustration of the carton depicted in FIG. 2
as viewed from the opposite side of the carton and wherein the tear
strip has been fully removed;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the carton shown in FIGS. 2 and
3, wherein walls of the carton have been separated to form
compartments joined by a hinge member; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the carton of FIGS. 2 and 3 in
the opened condition illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the carton is
lifted through use of features taught by the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are
used to denote the same or like features of the invention.
[0018] Referring first to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 simultaneously, FIG. 1
illustrates a blank 10 for forming a carton in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the invention while FIG. 2 illustrates a
carton 12 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
invention formed from the blank of FIG. 1. A discussion of the
features of the blank 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is useful at this
point to help identify the features of the invention as embedded in
the carton 12. The carton 12 has a tubular structure. In the
preferred embodiment shown, the tubular structure is formed by
opposing top and bottom walls, which for convenience of discussion
may be referred to as first and second walls 20, 22, respectively,
and opposing side walls 24, 26a/26b. In the embodiment illustrated,
a handle 40 is formed in one of the side walls. Ends walls 30/34,
32/36 generally enclose the ends of the structure.
[0019] An open-ended tubular structure is first generally formed by
adhering the side wall panels 26a and 26b to one another. Articles
A such as beverage containers are typically loaded into the
open-ended tubular structure by a continuous-motion packaging
machine. Once the carton 12 is loaded, the various end panels and
flaps 30, 32, 34, 36, 42, 44 46a, 46b, 48a, 48b are folded over to
provide end closures for the carton.
[0020] The carton 12 has a region along which the carton is
separable. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, a region along
which the carton 12 is separable includes a tear strip 50 and a
frangible line 56, 58 such as a perforated line. The separable
region extends partially around a circumference of the tubular
structure. As a convenient point of reference, this will be
referred as a longitudinal direction. The direction has been
described as longitudinal in relation to the orientation of an
imaginary axis for the open tubular structure that is formed when
the side flaps 26a and 26b are joined. In turn, the orientation of
the handle may be considered to be "transverse" with respect to the
open-ended tubular structure. The terms longitudinal and transverse
may be interchanged as points of reference without affecting the
scope or teachings of the invention.
[0021] The separable region may consist of any structure that
allows the carton to be separated. For example, the separable
region may consist of either a tear strip or a frangible line
alone. However, use of a tear strip 50 and a frangible line 56/58
in combination helps prevent the carton from opening prematurely
while facilitating easy separation of the carton compartments once
the tear strip 50 has been removed thus providing an opening
through which separation can be initiated. As an example of other
alternatives, and not as a limitation, the separable region may
also be defined by a cut line having an adhesive strip applied
thereto to hold the carton together until intentionally pulled
apart.
[0022] FIG. 3 depicts the carton after removal of the tear strip
50. Removal of the tear strip 50 provides an opening through which
the carton can be manipulated to separate one side from the other
along the separable region. In addition, the opening provided by
removal of the tear strip in essence provides a starter area for
the separation of the carton into compartments.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 4, therein is illustrated the carton
as separated and divided into compartments 14, 16. The compartments
14, 16 are joined by a hinge member 52. The hinge member 52 has
transverse edges that are spaced apart from one another. This helps
produce a strong hinge for supporting the compartments. The
compartments 14, 16 may be lifted by the hinge structure by
grasping the inside of the bottom (or second) wall 22 about the
hinge member 52. However, a simple, perhaps more convenient lifting
mechanism is provided by an aperture 54 formed in the hinge member
52. An individual may lift the compartments by inserting a finger
through the aperture and lifting upward as illustrated in FIG.
5.
[0024] In use, a carton 12 according to a preferred embodiment of
the invention as described above is formed from the blank 10 or
otherwise is generally first formed into an open-ended tubular
structure. Then, cans are loaded in from the ends and the carton 12
is placed in enclosed condition. Once the tear strip 50 is removed
as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carton 12 can be separated
along the frangible line 56/58 into the compartments 14, 16
illustrated in FIG. 4. The hinge member 52 has spaced-apart lateral
edges that provide both a strong hinge structure and a bridge
between the two compartments 14, 16. The opened carton 12 can then
be lifted through the hinge member. A simple manner of lifting is
to grasp the inside surfaces of the U-shaped structure formed by
the hinge member 52. A more convenient yet simple lifting mechanism
is provided through placement of an aperture 54 in the hinge member
52. With the aperture 54, the carton 12 is simply lifted by
insertion of the finger of a user through the aperture 54.
[0025] Thus, in the manner described above, a package containing
multiples of articles such as beverage containers is convertible
into a compartmented container from which individual ones of the
articles can be retrieved. Because the package is easily
transported after it has been converted into a compartmented
container, it may be carried around by hand and used as a serving
unit for the articles. In addition, the compartmented container
formed can be easily placed in a storage area such as a food
cabinet or pantry or a refrigeration unit where the articles may be
maintained as an aggregation from which individual units may be
easily removed.
[0026] Use of terms such as top, bottom, side, end, longitudinal
and transverse are used for convenience and to provide a point of
reference in the description of the preferred embodiment of the
invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
Modifications may be made in the foregoing without departing from
the scope and spirit of the claimed invention. For example, the
hinge member has spaced-apart lateral edges and in a preferred
embodiment described above is substantially elliptical. The tapered
ends of the substantially elliptical configuration help provide a
transition from the carton end walls and bottom wall to the hinge
member. However, the hinge member may have other configurations,
such as substantially rectangular.
* * * * *