U.S. patent application number 11/764373 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for gusseted carton having upper and lower storage compartments.
Invention is credited to Raymond S. Kastanek, Weston R. Wilson.
Application Number | 20070290026 11/764373 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38814603 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070290026 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kastanek; Raymond S. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
Gusseted Carton Having Upper and Lower Storage Compartments
Abstract
Cartons, carton blanks, and methods for manufacturing cartons
are described herein. In one implementation, a carton formed from a
carton blank includes a lower storage compartment having at least
one panel. The carton also includes a lid connected to a first
panel of the lower storage compartment, where the lid is configured
to be pivotable with respect to the lower storage compartment. The
carton further includes an upper storage compartment that is formed
within the lid. The lid comprises a lower lid panel that separates
the lower storage compartment from the upper storage
compartment.
Inventors: |
Kastanek; Raymond S.;
(Longmont, CO) ; Wilson; Weston R.; (Arvada,
CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOMBLE CARLYLE SANDRIDGE & RICE, PLLC
ATTN: PATENT DOCKETING 32ND FLOOR, P.O. BOX 7037
ATLANTA
GA
30357-0037
US
|
Family ID: |
38814603 |
Appl. No.: |
11/764373 |
Filed: |
June 18, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60814634 |
Jun 16, 2006 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/120.21 ;
229/117.16; 229/186; 229/243 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2571/00561
20130101; B65D 2571/00141 20130101; B65D 2571/00728 20130101; B65D
2571/0045 20130101; B65D 2571/00925 20130101; B65D 2571/0037
20130101; B65D 71/36 20130101; B65D 2571/0066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/120.21 ;
229/117.16; 229/186; 229/243 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/04 20060101
B65D025/04; B65D 5/46 20060101 B65D005/46; B65D 5/24 20060101
B65D005/24; B65D 17/00 20060101 B65D017/00 |
Claims
1. A carton formed from a carton blank, the carton comprising: a
lower storage compartment having at least one panel; a lid
connected to a first panel of the lower storage compartment, the
lid configured to be pivotable with respect to the lower storage
compartment; and an upper storage compartment formed within the
lid; wherein the lid comprises a lower lid panel that separates the
lower storage compartment from the upper storage compartment.
2. The carton of claim 1, wherein the lower storage compartment
comprises a substantially water-tight receptacle.
3. The carton of claim 2, wherein the water-tight receptacle allows
the lower storage compartment to be substantially water tight up to
a first height.
4. The carton of claim 3, wherein the first height is greater than
about 20% of the height of the carton.
5. The carton of claim 1, wherein the lid is pivotable between a
closed position and an opened position.
6. The carton of claim 5, wherein, in the closed position, items
stored in the upper storage compartment are at least partially
separated from items in the lower storage compartment by the lower
lid panel.
7. The carton of claim 5, wherein, in the opened position, the
upper storage compartment and lower storage compartment are
accessible for storing or removing items.
8. The carton of claim 1, further comprising a first handle and a
second handle, wherein the first handle and second handle are
positioned at substantially opposite ends of the carton.
9. A carton blank comprising: a plurality of adjoining panels
connected together by a plurality of fold lines, the plurality of
adjoining panels capable of being formed into a lower storage
compartment of a carton; a lower lid panel having a first panel, a
second panel, and an intermediate panel, the first panel foldably
connected to a first end of the intermediate panel, the second
panel foldably connected to a second end of the intermediate panel;
and an upper lid panel having a pivot panel and a spacer panel;
wherein the pivot panel is positioned for overlapping the first
panel of the lower lid in response to predetermined folding along
at least a first fold line of the plurality of fold lines; and
wherein the spacer panel includes a portion thereof positioned for
overlapping the second panel of the lower lid in response to
predetermined folding along at least a second fold line of the
plurality of fold lines.
10. The carton blank of claim 9, wherein the plurality of adjoining
panels comprises: a bottom panel; a front panel foldably connected
to the bottom panel; a back panel foldably connected to the bottom
panel; first and second end panels foldably connected to the bottom
panel; a first gusset foldably connected to the first end panel and
the front panel; a second gusset foldably connected to the front
panel and the second end panel; a third gusset foldably connected
to the second end panel and the back panel; and a fourth gusset
foldably connected to the back panel and the first end panel.
11. The carton blank of claim 10, further comprising a fold line
between the pivot panel and the back panel.
12. The carton blank of claim 9, further comprising: first and
second longitudinal panels foldably connected to the back panel in
a longitudinal direction; and third and fourth longitudinal panels
foldably connected to the front panel in a longitudinal
direction.
13. The carton blank of claim 12, further comprising: first and
second outer handle panels foldably connected to the first and
second longitudinal panels, respectively; and first and second
inner handle panels foldably connected to the third and fourth
longitudinal panels, respectively.
14. The carton blank of claim 9, wherein the lower lid panel is cut
and removed from the single planar sheet with no fold lines
connecting the lower lid panel to adjoining panels.
15. A method of manufacturing a carton, the method comprising:
cutting a carton blank from a sheet of material, the carton blank
comprising a plurality of adjoining panels, an upper lid panel, and
a lower lid panel; attaching the lower lid panel to the upper lid
panel to at least partially form an upper storage compartment of
the carton; and folding the plurality of adjoining panels along
respective fold lines to form a lower storage compartment of the
carton.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the lower lid panel is at least
partially struck from at least one of the plurality of panels and
the upper storage compartment is at least partially further formed
in response to the folding step.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the carton blank further
comprises outer handle panels and inner handle panels, the method
further comprising: adhering the inner handle panels to first
portions of the outer handle panels.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of adjoining
panels includes end panels, the method further comprising: adhering
second portions of the outer handle panels to portions of the end
panels.
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: forming a fold line
along a first edge of the upper lid panel; and forming tear lines
along other edges of the upper lid panel.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: tearing the tear
lines along the other edges of the upper lid panel to thereby allow
the upper lid panel to be pivoted along the fold line along the
first edge.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/814,634, filed Jun. 16, 2006, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Dispensing cartons are known. Conventional dispensing
cartons may have a top panel with a dispensing feature formed
therein. Such cartons may be used to contain articles such as
beverage containers that are dispensable through the top panel or
another panel when the carton is opened. Typically, the cartons
must be refrigerated in order to keep the enclosed containers cool.
When the cartons are no longer refrigerated, such as when the
carton is removed from the refrigerator to dispense the containers,
the containers may become undesirably warm. The containers must
then be refrigerated again or otherwise cooled. Conventional
dispensing cartons are also typically suited to store only one type
of article, and therefore multiple vessels are required to carry
various items, such as containers and dry snacks.
SUMMARY
[0003] In the present disclosure, cartons, carton blanks, and
methods of manufacturing and using cartons are described. In one
embodiment, among others, a carton, which is formed from a carton
blank, comprises a lower storage compartment having at least one
panel. The carton also includes a lid connected to a first panel of
the lower storage compartment. The lid is configured to be
pivotable with respect to the lower storage compartment. Also, the
carton includes an upper storage compartment formed within the lid.
The lid comprises a lower lid panel that separates the lower
storage compartment from the upper storage compartment.
[0004] The present disclosure also describes an embodiment of a
carton blank cut from a single planar sheet. The carton blank
comprises a plurality of adjoining panels connected together by a
plurality of fold lines, wherein the plurality of adjoining panels
are capable of being formed into a lower storage compartment of a
carton. The carton blank also includes a lower lid panel having a
first panel, a second panel, and an intermediate panel. The first
panel is foldably connected to a first end of the intermediate
panel, and the second panel is foldably connected to a second end
of the intermediate panel. The carton blank also includes an upper
lid panel having a pivot panel and a spacer panel. The pivot panel
is positioned for overlapping the first panel of the lower lid in
response to predetermined folding along at least a first fold line
of the plurality of fold lines. The spacer panel includes a portion
thereof positioned for overlapping the second panel of the lower
lid in response to predetermined folding along at least a second
fold line of the plurality of fold lines.
[0005] Furthermore, the present disclosure describes embodiments of
method of manufacturing a carton. In one embodiment, among others,
the method comprises cutting a carton blank from a sheet of
material, wherein the carton blank comprises a plurality of
adjoining panels, an upper lid panel, and a lower lid panel. The
method also includes attaching the lower lid panel to the upper lid
panel to at least partially form an upper storage compartment of
the carton. Also, the method includes folding the plurality of
adjoining panels along respective fold lines to form a lower
storage compartment of the carton.
[0006] Other aspects, features, and details of the present
disclosure can be more completely understood by reference to the
following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken in
conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0007] According to common practice, the various features of the
drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be
expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of
the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank used to form a
carton according to a first embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an open end of the carton
blank of FIG. 1 in a partially erected state.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view a carton erected from the
carton blank of FIG. 1 in accordance with a first embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the back of the carton.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the front of the carton with
a lid of the carton opened.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an end of the carton with
the lid opened.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the back of the carton with
the lid opened.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the carton with the lid
opened and containers accommodated within the carton.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The first embodiment of the present disclosure generally
relates to a carton suitable for storing and dispensing articles
such as, for example, beverage containers. The carton is also
suitable for storing and dispensing articles of a second type, such
as dry snacks, in a separate compartment. In accordance with the
first embodiment, the carton includes a bottom receptacle suitable
for accommodating, for example, liquids, ice, or other coolants in
the carton bottom. In one exemplary embodiment, ice can be added to
the opened carton to cool articles held within the carton. As the
ice melts, all or a part of the resultant runoff water may be at
least temporarily held within the bottom receptacle.
[0017] Articles accommodated in a bottom portion of the carton can
include containers such as, for example, petaloid bottle
containers, beverage cans, glass or plastic bottles, or other
containers such as, for example, those used in packaging
foodstuffs. For the purposes of illustration and not for the
purpose of limiting the scope of the present disclosure, the
following detailed description describes beverage containers as
disposed within the carton embodiments. In this specification, the
terms "lower," "upper," "bottom," "front" and "back" indicate
orientations determined in relation to fully erected, upright
cartons.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank 8 used to form the carton
190 (illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4) according to the first
embodiment of the present disclosure. The blank 8 can be cut from a
single planar sheet having a material that is suitable for the
construction of a carton. As shown in FIG. 1, the blank 8 may be
symmetric or nearly symmetric about a longitudinal centerline CL.
Therefore, certain elements in the drawing figures may have
identical or similar reference numerals in order to reflect partial
or complete longitudinal symmetry in the blank.
[0019] The blank 8 comprises a lower lid panel 10 adjacent to a
front panel 40, a bottom panel 50 foldably connected to the front
panel 40 at a transverse fold line 51, a back panel 60 foldably
connected to the bottom panel 50 at a transverse fold line 61, an
upper lid panel 70 foldably connected to the back panel 60 at a
transverse fold line 76, and a front adhesive panel 90.
[0020] First gussets 45 are disposed at either end of the front
panel 40. The first gussets 45 comprise a pair of gusset panels 42,
46 foldably connected to one another at an oblique fold line 44.
Each gusset panel 42 is foldably connected to the front panel 40 at
a longitudinal fold line 106, and each gusset panel 46 is foldably
connected to a bottom end panel 52 at the transverse fold line 51.
An adhesive flap 54 is foldably connected to each bottom end panel
52 at a longitudinal fold line 56.
[0021] Second gussets 65 are disposed at either end of the back
panel 60. The second gussets 65 comprise a pair of gusset panels
62, 66 foldably connected at an oblique fold line 64. Each gusset
panel 62 is foldably connected to the back panel 60 at the
longitudinal fold line 106, and each gusset panel 66 is foldably
connected to a bottom end panel 52 at the transverse fold line
61.
[0022] The periphery of the lower lid panel 10 is defined at one
end of the blank 8 by a separation pattern, which includes, for
example, spaced longitudinal cuts 20, oblique cuts 22, and a
transverse cut 24 connecting the oblique cuts 22. More generally,
as in one example, the periphery of the lower lid panel 10 is
defined by one or more tear lines, slits, or any combination
thereof. The lower lid panel 10 can be retained in place in the
blank 8 by nicks around the periphery of the lower lid panel 10.
The nicks, for example, are "bridging" pieces of the blank 8
located between slits in the blank 8. An adhesive panel 12 is in
part defined at one end of the panel 10 by a transverse fold line
14, and an adhesive panel 16 is in part defined at the other end of
the lower lid panel 10 by a transverse fold line 18. The middle
section of the lower lid panel 10 is intermediate between adhesive
panels 12 and 16. Longitudinal panels 28 extend along each side of
the lower lid panel 10 and are foldably connected to the front
panel 40 at transverse fold lines 41.
[0023] The periphery of the upper lid panel 70 is defined by a
transverse fold line 74, spaced longitudinal tear lines 80, oblique
tear lines 92, and a tear line 94 connecting the oblique tear lines
92. The tear lines 80, 92, and 94 allow the upper lid panel 70 to
remain in place with respect to the adjoining panels. However, the
tear lines 80, 92, and 94 can be torn by a user without special
cutting tools to separate the upper lid panel from longitudinal
panels 78 and the front adhesive panel 90. After the tear lines are
torn, the upper lid panel 70 can be pivoted as explained in more
detail below. A pivot panel 72 is defined at one end of the upper
lid panel 70 in part by a transverse fold line 76. A spacer panel
84 is defined in the other end of the upper lid panel 70 in part by
transverse fold lines 83, 86. An adhesive panel 88 is foldably
connected to the spacer panel 84 at the transverse fold line 86.
The longitudinal panels 78 extend along each side of the upper lid
panel 70 and are foldably connected to the back panel 60 at
transverse fold lines 63. The front adhesive panel 90 extends from
the end of the blank 8 and is foldably connected to the
longitudinal panels 78 at transverse fold lines 91.
[0024] Inner handle panels 30 are foldably connected to the
longitudinal panels 28 at the fold lines 106. Apertures 34 can be
formed along the fold lines 106 to facilitate folding of the handle
panels 30. Cut-out 32, which in some embodiments form
racetrack-shaped handles, are formed in the handle panels 30. Outer
handle panels 100 are foldably connected to the longitudinal panels
78 at the fold lines 106. The outer handle panels 100 include
handles 102 that are arranged to align with the cut-outs 32, e.g.,
handles, in the erected carton 190.
[0025] According to one exemplary aspect of the present disclosure,
the gussets 45, 65, the front panel 40, the back panel 60, the
bottom end panels 52, and bottom panel 50 form a wholly or
partially liquid-tight bottom receptacle 175 (illustrated in FIGS.
6 and 7) in the erected carton 190. The panels 30, 42, 46, 52, 62,
66, 100 generally extend both along a first marginal area (the
upper region or area in FIG. 1) of the blank 8, and also along a
second marginal area (the lower region or area in FIG. 1) of the
blank 8. The longitudinal fold lines 106 can be, for example,
straight or generally straight lines, or may be offset to account
for blank thickness or for other factors.
[0026] An exemplary method of erection of the blank 8 into the
carton 190 will now be discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 2 illustrates the blank 8 glued and folded into a generally
tubular configuration with both ends of the tube open to form a
partially erected carton. The lower lid panel 10 is folded at the
transverse fold lines 14, 18 so that the adhesive panel 12 is
brought into contact with the pivot panel 72 and is adhered thereto
by adhesive material therebetween. Also, the adhesive panel 16 is
brought into contact with the adhesive panel 88 of spacer panel 84
and adhered thereto by adhesive material therebetween. It should be
noted that the adhesive material is typically not applied to the
adhesive panels 12, 16, 88 and pivot panel 72 until the time of
carton erection. The adhesive material, in this case, can be
applied to portions of one or both of the respective adjoining
adhesive panels. When the adhesive panels 12, 16 are adequately
adhered to the pivot panel 72 and adhesive panel 88, respectively,
folding along fold lines can automatically strike, i.e. separate,
the lower lid panel 10 from the prior position of the lower lid
panel 10 in the blank 8.
[0027] The exterior sides of the longitudinal panels 28 are
typically adhered to the interior or undersides of the longitudinal
panels 78, and the exterior sides of the handle panels 30 are
typically adhered to the interior sides of the handle panels 100 so
that the handles 32, 102 align. The interior side or underside of
the front adhesive panel 90 is adhered to the exterior side of the
front panel 40. The ends of the partially erected carton may now be
closed by the first and second gussets 45, 65 and the bottom end
panels 52. The discussion below describes closing of one end of the
partially erected blank. The opposite end may be closed in a
similar manner.
[0028] Still referring to FIG. 2, the overlapped inner and outer
handle panels 30, 100 are initially folded inwardly about the
longitudinal fold lines 106, and the first and second gussets 45,
65 and the bottom end panels 52 are subsequently folded inwardly
about the longitudinal fold lines 106. As the gussets 45, 65 and
the bottom end panels 52 are folded inwardly, the first gussets 45
fold inwardly about the oblique fold lines 44 and the second
gussets 65 fold inwardly about the oblique fold lines 64. The
bottom end panels 52 may be folded over the inwardly folded gussets
45, 65 and may, for example, be adhered to the interior sides of
the gusset panels 46, 66. In other embodiments, the end panels 52
may be folded such that the interior sides of the gusset panels 42,
62 of gussets 45, 65 can be adhered to the interior sides of the
front panel 40 and back panel 60, respectively. The exterior
surfaces of the gusset panels 42 may be adhered to exterior
surfaces of the gusset panels 46. The exterior surfaces of gusset
panels 62, 66 may also be adhered together. The first and second
gussets 45, 65 and the bottom end panels 52 are folded over the
overlapped handle panels 30, 100 and the interior side of each
adhesive panel 54 is adhered to the exterior side of a handle panel
100. Alternatively, the handle panels 30, 100 may overlap the
bottom end panels 52. The erected carton 190 may be loaded with
containers C and/or additional articles, for example, at any time
before closing both ends of the carton. In accordance with an
alternative embodiment, the gussets 45, 65 are omitted and the
bottom end panels 52 are closed with connectional end flaps.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates the front of the erected carton 190. To
continue to erect the carton 190, the front adhesive panel 90 is
folded about the fold lines 91 and is adhered to a front surface of
the front panel 40. The adhesive panel 88 of the upper lid panel 70
is adhered to the adhesive panel 16 (shown in FIG. 1) of the lower
lid panel 10. The spacer panel 84 extends across the front face of
the carton 190 and separates the upper and lower lid panels 10, 70.
The upper and lower lid panels 10, 70 define a lid 150 in the top
portion of the carton 190.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates the back of the carton 190. The pivot
panel 72 is foldably connected to the back panel 60 at the fold
line 74. When the lid 150 is in a closed position (as illustrated),
the pivot panel 72 extends substantially flush across the back face
of the carton 190.
[0031] FIG. 5 illustrates the front of the carton 190 with the lid
150 in an opened position. Referring also to FIG. 3, the lid 150
may be opened by tearing along the tear lines 80, 92, 94 and
pulling up on the lid 150. As the lid 150 pivots upwardly, the
connection of the adhesive panel 88 to the adhesive panel 16 causes
the lower lid panel 10 to also move upwardly. Along with the
adhesively connected panels 12, 72, the spacer panel 84 provides a
spacing between the upper and lower lid panels 70, 10. The volume
between the upper and lower lid panels 70, 10 comprises an upper
storage compartment 160 in the lid 150. The upper and lower lid
panels 70, 10 and the upper storage compartment 160, in alternative
embodiments, can be formed in a variety of different shapes. A
lower storage compartment 170 is defined in the bottom portion of
the carton 190, and a bottom receptacle 175 is further defined in
the lower storage compartment 170. The upper storage compartment
160 in the lid 150 is at least partially isolated from the lower
storage compartment 170 by the lower lid panel 10. In the opened
position, as illustrated in FIG. 5, items can be respectively
stored within or removed from the upper storage compartment 160 and
lower storage compartment 170.
[0032] Referring also to FIG. 6, as the pivotable lid 150 is
opened, the lower lid panel 10 pivots about the fold line 14, with
the adhesive panel 12 being adhesively secured to the pivot panel
72. The carton 190 can be designed such that friction between the
edges of the lower lid panel 10 of the lid 150 and the edges of the
open section of the carton 190 can help maintain the lid 150 in an
open position. That is, the lower lid panel 10 may be the as or a
little wider than, or a little offset with respect to, the upper
lid panel 70. FIG. 7 illustrates the back of the opened carton 190.
As the lid 150 is pivoted open, the pivot panel 72 pivots away from
the back panel 60 about the fold line 74. FIG. 8 illustrates the
carton 190 with containers C accommodated within the carton
190.
[0033] Referring again to FIG. 6, the bottom receptacle 175, which
is defined by portions of the first and second gussets 45, 65, the
bottom end panels 52, and the panels 40, 50, 60, may be at least
partially liquid-tight. The top edge or border of the bottom
receptacle 175 is indicated by the dashed perimeter line 177 in
FIGS. 3-5. The top edge of the bottom receptacle 175 represents a
portion of the bottom of the carton 190 below which typically no
glued seals or seams are formed through which water or other liquid
might leak from the carton 190. That is, in accordance with the
first embodiment, no adhesive seal or other joinder of material
where liquid or particulate matter might escape the carton 190 is
located in the carton at a position below the top perimeter line
177 of the bottom receptacle 175. Referring also to FIG. 1, the
bottom receptacle 175 may therefore be formed from a continuous
section of folded material of the blank 8. The height of the
liquid-tight portion of the bottom receptacle 175 below which there
are no glued seams is generally indicated as a height H.sub.R in
FIG. 6, which generally corresponds to the height at which the fold
lines 56 are located. Referring to FIG. 1, the height H.sub.R may
generally coincide with an uppermost point 48 where the gusset
panels 42, 46 of the first gussets 45 are foldably connected to one
another, and the uppermost point 68 where the gusset panels 62, 66
of the second gussets 65 are connected.
[0034] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the
height H.sub.R may be, for example, defined as a function of a
height of the carton 190. For example, referring to FIG. 6, the
bottom receptacle 175 may define a liquid-tight portion having a
height H.sub.R that is at least about 10% of the height H.sub.C of
the carton 190. Higher bottom receptacle heights, such as a height
H.sub.R that is at least 20% of carton height H.sub.C, are also
possible. In the illustrated embodiment, the height H.sub.C is
about 8 inches and the height H.sub.R is about 3.9 inches, which is
about 49% of the carton height H.sub.C. The height H.sub.R may be
increased, for example, to accommodate larger anticipated liquid
volumes in the carton 190.
[0035] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the upper
storage compartment 160 in the lid 150 may be used to store items
separate from items accommodated in the lower storage compartment
170. For example, the upper storage compartment 160 may be a "dry"
compartment used to accommodate items such as packaged foods. The
lower storage compartment 170 can be a "wet" compartment used to
accommodate beverage containers C, and, if desired, ice or other
coolant substances.
[0036] If desired, additional articles may be placed in the carton
190 after opening. For example, if the containers C are beverage
containers, ice may be placed over the containers C and held within
the lower storage compartment 170 to cool the containers C. As the
ice melts, the bottom receptacle 175 of the carton 190 serves to
retain all or a portion of the water runoff as the ice melts. The
receptacle 175 may also serve, for example, to house fine
particulate matter that might otherwise escape through a glued
seam. If one or more containers C is damaged during shipping or
storage of the carton 190, the bottom receptacle 175 can serve to
retain all or a portion of the contents of the broken
container.
[0037] The blank 8 can, for example, be constructed of water
resistant material to any degree desired so that liquid in the
bottom of the carton 190 remains in the bottom receptacle 175 for a
selected amount of time. The carton 190 can therefore be
constructed so that liquid retained in the bottom receptacle 175
initially remains in the carton 190 at least until it reached the
height H.sub.R.
[0038] Cartons constructed according to the principles of the
present disclosure may be formed from materials such as paperboard.
Therefore, if exposed to water or other liquids for extended
periods of time, the carton may allow for the passage of liquid
through the wetted carton surfaces due to partial permeability of
the carton material. In this specification, the term "liquid-tight"
is generally used to define a section of a carton that is formed
from a continuous section of material or of a section without any
glued seams through which liquid or fine particulate matter might
leak, and the term "liquid-tight" therefore encompasses cartons
that may become partially water permeable over time.
[0039] In order to reduce the permeability of cartons to liquid,
blanks according to the present disclosure may be coated with, for
example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of a
blank. Blanks can also be laminated to or coated with one or more
sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections. For
example, the interior surfaces of the blank 8 may include a
water-resistant or water-tight film such as, for example,
polyethylene, polyester, or polypropylene films. Coatings of the
same materials may also be applied to the blank 8. Accordingly, the
sheet from which the blank 8 is cut may have multiple plys.
[0040] In the above embodiments, the carton 190 is illustrated as
accommodating eight containers C in a 2.times.4 configuration.
Other arrangements of containers, packages, articles, and other
items, however, can be accommodated within a carton according to
the principles of the present disclosure. For example, a carton
constructed according to the principles of the present disclosure
would also work satisfactorily if the carton were sized and shaped
to hold articles in other configurations, such as 3.times.4,
4.times.3, 3.times.6, 2.times.4, 2.times.5, etc. The dimensions of
the blank 8 may also be altered, for example, to accommodate
various container forms. For example, 16-ounce petaloid bottles may
be accommodated within a carton constructed according to the
principles of the present disclosure.
[0041] In the exemplary embodiments discussed above, the exemplary
blank 8 may be formed from, for example, clay coated newsprint
(CCN), solid unbleached sulfate board (SUS), and/or other
materials. In general, the blank may be constructed from paperboard
having a caliper of at least about 14, for example, so that it is
heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blank can also be
constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, or any other
material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to
function at least generally as described above.
[0042] The blank can be coated with, for example, a clay coating.
The clay coating may then be printed over with product advertising
and/or other information or images. The blank may then be coated
with a varnish to protect information printed on the blank.
[0043] In the present specification, a "panel" need not be flat or
otherwise planar. A "panel" can, for example, comprise a plurality
of interconnected generally flat or planar sections.
[0044] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more
panels adhered together by glue. The term "glue" is intended to
encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure
paperboard carton panels in place.
[0045] The term "line" as used herein includes not only straight
lines, but also other types of lines such as curved, curvilinear or
angularly displaced lines.
[0046] In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line
can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight,
form of weakening that facilitates folding therealong. More
specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the
present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines
formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a
crushed or depressed portion in the material along the desired line
of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the
desired line of weakness, and/or a series of cuts that extend
partially into and/or completely through the material along the
desired line of weakness; and various combinations of these
features. In situations where cutting is used to create a fold
line, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a
manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider
the fold line to be a tear line.
[0047] In the illustrated embodiments, selected fold lines may be
shown as including spaced cuts to facilitate folding along the
lines. If the cuts are below or adjacent to the bottom receptacle
175 portion of the carton, less than 100% cuts, e.g., cuts that do
not extend all the way through the blank, may be used to prevent
leakage along the fold lines. Alternatively, cuts or scores may be
omitted within or near the bottom receptacle 175.
[0048] The term "tear line" as used herein can be any fold, cut,
puncture, slice, slit, perforation, etc., or any combinations
thereof, which allows the blank 8 to be folded along an intended
line. When the tear lines contains slits, for example, the slits
are typically aligned nearly end-to-end including bridges between
them, wherein the bridges can be ripped. The tear lines can also be
formed using a kiss cut that cuts through one surface of the blank
8, but does not extend all the way through it.
[0049] The foregoing description of the present disclosure
illustrates and describes selected embodiments. However, it is to
be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by the
exemplary embodiments, but can include other modifications and
changes within the spirit and scope of the descriptions expressed
herein. Such modifications known to one of ordinary skill in the
art are intended to be included within the present disclosure and
limited only by the following claims.
* * * * *