U.S. patent application number 12/001337 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-11 for carton having appendages for shelf stability.
Invention is credited to Lawrence A. Bone, Carmine Bucalo, Pete A. Kahn.
Application Number | 20090145951 12/001337 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40720576 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090145951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bone; Lawrence A. ; et
al. |
June 11, 2009 |
Carton having appendages for shelf stability
Abstract
The present invention relates to an upright, free-standing
carton having appendages for stability. The carton comprises a body
portion that extends upwardly from a base portion and bulges out
beyond the base portion. In order to stabilize the bulging carton,
provided are appendages extending from the body portion and
contacting the surface on which the base portion of the carton
rests.
Inventors: |
Bone; Lawrence A.; (Dingmans
Ferry, PA) ; Kahn; Pete A.; (Andover, NJ) ;
Bucalo; Carmine; (Allentown, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOODCOCK WASHBURN LLP
CIRA CENTRE, 12TH FLOOR, 2929 ARCH STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19104-2891
US
|
Family ID: |
40720576 |
Appl. No.: |
12/001337 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/4.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2207/00 20130101;
B65D 5/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/4.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 3/02 20060101
B65D003/02 |
Claims
1. An upright, free-standing carton comprising: an elongate base
portion on which the carton rests; a body portion extending
upwardly from the base portion, the body portion having a bulge
that overhangs the base portion; and at least two appendages
extending outwardly relative to the base portion and capable of
contacting a surface on which the carton rests for enhancing
stability of the carton when it is in its upright, free-standing
position.
2. The carton of claim 1 further comprising at least one tab
extending downwardly from the body portion beyond a plane defined
by the base portion.
3. The carton of claim 1 wherein the elongate base portion is a
rectangle.
4. The carton of claim 1 wherein the elongate base portion is
planar.
5. The carton of claim 1 wherein a height of the body portion is
greater than a dimension of the base portion.
6. The carton of claim 1 wherein the bulge overhangs the base
portion in a direction that is not parallel to a longitudinal axis
of the base portion.
7. The carton of claim 6 wherein the bulge overhangs the base
portion in a direction approximately perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the base portion.
8. The carton of claim 1 wherein the at least two appendages extend
from the body portion.
9. The carton of claim 1 wherein the body portion comprises inside
major flaps and outside major flaps.
10. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton is formed from a
single planar blank that is configured to be folded to form the
carton.
11. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton is made of
paperboard.
12. A blank for forming a carton comprising: an elongate base
panel; a front panel hingeably connected to the base panel; a rear
panel hingeably connected to the base panel; two outside major
flaps hingeably connected to the front panel; two inside major
flaps hingeably connected to the rear panel; and at least two
appendages, each appendage extending from one of the two outside
major flaps.
13. The blank from claim 12 further comprising a cut on a portion
of the base panel adjoining the front panel that defines a tab that
is connected to and extends from the front panel.
14. The blank from claim 12 further comprising two minor flaps
hingeably connected to the base panel.
15. The blank from claim 12 further comprising a top panel
hingeably connected to the front panel.
16. The blank from claim 15 further comprising two minor flaps
hingeably connected to the top panel.
17. The blank from claim 15 further comprising a cover flap
hingeably connected to the top panel.
18. The blank of claim 12 wherein the elongate base panel has a
rectangular shape and defines two long sides and two short
sides.
19. The blank of claim 18 wherein the front panel and the rear
panel each have an hour-glass shape and are each connected to a
long side of the rectangular base panel.
20. The blank of claim 19 wherein the two outside major flaps each
have a truncated-ellipse shape having a major axis and a minor
axis.
21. The blank of claim 20 wherein the minor axis of the
truncated-ellipse shape of each of the two outside major flaps is
longer than a short side of the rectangular base panel.
22. The blank of claim 21 wherein the at least two appendages do
not extend further than the minor axis of the two outside major
flaps.
Description
TECHNOLOGY FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging carton having
appendages for shelf stability and a carton blank for forming the
packaging carton.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Competition among brand manufacturers of consumer products
has intensified in recent years. As a result, store shelves have
become increasingly crowded with a multitude of consumer products.
Brand owners recognize that packaging has a significant impact on
product marketing. Thus, brand owners are looking to differentiate
their products on store shelves through packaging. In particular,
the shape and structure of a package can have a significant impact
on product differentiation and consumer appeal.
[0003] An innovative structural design can help attract a consumer
to a product on a crowded store shelf. Tests that track eye
movement have shown that when looking at a solid block of products,
a consumer's eye moves continually along them. When there are gaps
between products, however, the eye stops. Thus, if a package is
designed to create space between itself and other packages, a
consumer is more likely to single it out on a store shelf. As a
result, a growing number of packages are employing chamfered or
rounded corners, which create enough of a gap to stop the
consumer's eye and allow brand recognition.
[0004] Some package shapes that are designed to create space
between adjacent packages, however, have a tendency to be unstable.
For example, some packages may bulge and extend beyond the base on
which they are supported, which makes them susceptible to tipping.
Further, some packages contain flexible film pouches or bags filled
with granular or pellet material that distribute the weight of the
contents unevenly throughout the package and affect the center of
gravity of the package so that it is even more susceptible to
tipping. In order for these packages to be functional and
effective, they must be upright and free-standing on a store shelf.
Therefore, there is a need for a package structure that creates
space between adjacent packages and is still stable.
SUMMARY
[0005] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the Detailed Description of Illustrative Embodiments. This Summary
is not intended to identify key features or essential features of
the invention, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of
the invention.
[0006] The present invention is directed to an upright,
free-standing carton that includes appendages for shelf stability.
In one embodiment, the carton comprises a base portion and a body
portion that extends upwardly from the base surface and bulges out
beyond the base portion. Additionally, the carton may include
appendages such as fins and/or tabs extending from the body portion
to stabilize the carton in the directions that the body portions
bulges out beyond the base portion.
[0007] Additional features and advantages will be made apparent
from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments
that proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description, is better understood when read in conjunction with the
appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present
invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary embodiments;
however, the present invention is not limited to the specific
embodiments disclosed.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an exemplary carton.
[0010] FIG. 2A shows a front view of the carton shown in FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 2B shows a rear view of the carton shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 2C shows a side view of the carton shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3A shows a front view of a series of exemplary
cartons.
[0014] FIG. 3B shows a side view of a series of exemplary
cartons.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a carton blank.
[0016] Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts
throughout the several embodiments of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging carton 10
according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown, a packaging
carton 10 includes base portion 20, a body portion 30, a top
portion 40, at least one fin 50, and at least one tab 60 that are
preferably integrally formed. According to one embodiment, the
sides of the body portion 30 may be inwardly depressed to create a
tapered waist region and give the front and back of the body
portion 30 an hour-glass shape. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3A, when two
cartons 10 are positioned side by side, there are gaps between the
body portions 30 of adjacent cartons 10 that make the individual
cartons 10 more distinguishable. The depressions on the body
portion 30 of the carton 10, however, decrease the volume of the
carton 10. As a result, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the
front and back of the body portion 30 may be designed to bulge out
beyond the base portion 20 and increase the volume of the carton
10. Further, in order to stabilize the carton 10 in the directions
that the body portion 30 bulges out beyond the base portion 20,
appendages such as fins 50 and tabs 60 may be provided as
shown.
[0018] The carton 10 is preferably made of paperboard material or
other suitable material, for example, plastic sheet stock. Although
there may be various uses for the carton 10 of the present
invention, the carton 10 is particularly well suited for packaging
flexible film pouches or bags filled with granular or pellet
material, such as confections. Cartons having pouches or bags
filled with granular or pellet material do not generally have an
even weight distribution inside the carton and may have a shifting
center of gravity, which may make them more susceptible to tipping.
Thus, the carton 10 of the present invention is designed for
improved stability.
[0019] The base portion 20 preferably has an elongate shape that
defines a major axis 28 and a minor axis 29 that are transverse to
each other. Preferably, the major axis 28 extends longitudinally
through the center of the elongate base portion 20 and the minor
axis 29 transversely bisects the major axis 28. As shown in the
embodiment of FIG. 1, the base portion 20 may have a rectangular
shape that defines a front edge 22, a rear edge 24, and opposite
side edges 26a, 26b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the major
axis 28 extends between side edge 26a and side edge 26b, and the
minor axis 29 extends between front edge 22 and rear edge 24.
Although, the shape of the elongate base portion 20 is shown as a
rectangle, the elongate base portion 20 may have any other suitable
shape, for example, a parallelogram or isosceles trapezoid.
Preferably, the base portion 20 is planar and adapted to rest on a
flat surface and support the carton 10 in an upright position.
[0020] The body portion 30 extends upwardly from the base portion
20 to a top portion 40. Preferably, the body portion 30 has a
height that is greater than any dimension of the base portion 20 so
that the carton 10 has a tall and slender structure. As shown in
FIGS. 1-3B, the body portion 30 may bulge outwardly in opposite
directions of the minor axis 29 of the base portion 20 and taper
inwardly in opposite directions of the major axis 28 of the base
portion 20. The body portion 30 comprises a front panel 32, a rear
panel 34, and side panels 36a, 36b that are preferably integrally
formed. The front panel 32, rear panel 34, and side panels 36a, 36b
of the body portion 30 are connected to the front edge 22, rear
edge 24, and side edges 26a, 26b of the base portion 20,
respectively, and extend upwardly from the elongate base portion 20
to a top portion 40. Further, the front panel 32 and the rear panel
34 are disposed opposite each other and are connected to each other
along their lateral edges by the side panels 36a, 36b.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1-2A, the front panel 32 may define
lateral edges 320a , 320b , a bottom edge 322, and a top edge 324.
The bottom edge 322 is connected to the front edge 22 of the base
portion 20 and the top edge 324 is connected to the top portion 40.
As shown in FIGS. 1-2A, the lateral edges 320a , 320b of the front
panel 32 may curve inwardly to create a tapered waist and give the
front panel 32 an hour-glass shape. Additionally, the front panel
32 is preferably convex such that it bulges out beyond the base
portion 20 in a forward direction of the minor axis 29. Because the
front panel 32 may have a convex shape at the junction between the
front edge 22 of base portion 20 and the bottom edge 322 of front
panel 32, the bulge of the carton may tip the carton in a forward
direction of the minor axis 29. Thus, a tab 60 may be provided to
prevent the carton 10 from tipping forward over the junction of the
front edge 22 and bottom edge 322. As shown in FIGS. 1-2A, there
may be at least one tab 60 integrally formed with the front panel
32 that is disposed along the bottom edge 322 of the front panel 32
such that it extends below the plane of the base portion 20.
Further, as shown, the front panel 32 may optionally include a
cutout defining a viewing window. The viewing window may comprise a
clear plastic film to prevent the contents of the carton 10 from
spilling out.
[0022] The rear panel 34 is disposed opposite the front panel 32
and preferably mirrors the shape and structure of the front panel
32. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the rear panel 34 may define
lateral edges 340a , 340b , a bottom edge 342, and a top edge 344.
The bottom edge 342 is connected to the rear edge 24 of the base
portion 20 and the top edge 344 is connected to the top portion 40.
In one embodiment, the lateral edges 340a , 340b of the rear panel
34 may curve inwardly to create a tapered waist and give the rear
panel 34 an hour-glass shape. Additionally, the rear panel 34 is
preferably convex such that it bulges out beyond the base portion
20 in a rearward direction of the minor axis 29.
[0023] The side panels 36a, 36b extend upwardly from the side edges
26a, 26b of the base portion 20 and connect the front panel 32 and
rear panel 34 to each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2C, each of
the side panels 36a, 36b may define a forward lateral edge 360a ,
360b , a rearward lateral edge 362a, 362b, a bottom edge 364a,
364b, and a top edge 366a, 366b. As shown, the lateral edges 320a ,
320b of the front panel 32 coextend with the forward lateral edges
360a , 360b of the side panels 36a, 36b, and the lateral edges 340a
, 340b of the rear panel 34 coextend with the rearward lateral
edges 362a, 362b of the side panels 36a, 36b, such that the front
panel 32 and rear panel 34 are connected to each other by the side
panels 36a, 36b. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2C, the forward
lateral edges 360a , 360b and rearward lateral edges 362a, 362b of
the side panels 36a, 36b may curve outwardly to complement the
inward curvature of the lateral edges 320a , 320b of the front
panel 32 and the lateral edges 340a , 340b of the rear panel 34.
The side panels 36a, 36b are preferably concave such that they are
inwardly depressed in opposite directions of the major axis 28.
[0024] The side panels 36a, 36b define a major axis (not shown)
extending longitudinally through the center of the side panels 36a,
36b and a minor axis (not shown) transversely bisecting the major
axis. As shown in FIG. 2C, the configuration of the forward lateral
edges 360a , 360b , rearward lateral edges 362a, 362b, bottom edges
364a, 364b, and top edges 366a, 366b may give the side panels 36a,
36b a truncated-ellipse shape. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2C,
the major axis extends between the bottom edges 364a, 364b and top
edges 366a, 366b, and the minor axis extends between the forward
lateral edges 360a , 360b and rearward lateral edges 362a, 362b. As
shown in FIG. 1, the minor axis of the side panels 36a, 36b is
longer than the minor axis of the base portion 20, and the major
axis of the side panels 36a, 36b is longer than the major axis of
the base portion 20.
[0025] Thus, the carton 10 has a bulge that extends beyond the base
portion 20 in a rearward direction of the minor axis 29 that makes
the carton 10 susceptible to tipping. Appendages, such as fins 50,
may be disposed on each of the side panels 36a, 36b to help prevent
the carton 10 from tipping in a rearward direction of the minor
axis 29. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2C, a fin 50 is
preferably integrally formed with each of the side panels 36a, 36b
such that the fins 50 extend from the rearward lateral edges 362a,
362b and bottom edges 364a, 364b of the side panels 36a, 36b in a
direction generally parallel to the rearward direction of the minor
axis 29. The fins 50 are adapted to contact a surface on which the
base portion 20 of the carton 10 rests and stabilize the carton 10.
Additionally, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 3B, the fins 50 preferably
do not extend beyond the bulge in the rear panel 34 of the carton
10, which allows two cartons 10 to be adjacently positioned back to
front without the fins 50 interfering. Further, the fin 50 is shown
having a triangular shape, but it may have any other suitable shape
for helping prevent the carton 10 from tipping. The triangular
shape of the fin 50, however, has been found to be a particularly
robust design for handling that prevents bending, breaking, or
other types of damage to the fin 50 that would limit its
anti-tipping function.
[0026] According to another aspect of the invention provided is a
carton blank 100 for forming a carton 10 in accordance with the
above description. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the carton
blank 100 may comprise a front panel 32', outside major flaps 36'a,
36'b, a top panel 40', top minor flaps 42'a, 42'b, a cover flap
44', a base panel 20', bottom minor flaps 21'a, 21'b, a rear panel
34', and inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b that are integrally
formed.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the front panel 32' may define lateral
edges 320'a, 320'b, a bottom edge 322', and a top edge 324'. As
shown, the lateral edges 320'a, 320'b of the front panel 32' may
curve inwardly to create a tapered waist and give the front panel
32' an hour-glass shape. Further, as shown, the front panel 32' may
optionally include a cutout defining a viewing window. The viewing
window may comprise a clear plastic film to prevent the contents of
the carton 10 from spilling out. Hingeably connected to the top
edge 324' of the front panel 32' may be a top panel 40'.
Additionally, as shown, top minor flaps 42'a, 42'b and a cover flap
44' may be hingeably connected to the top panel 40'.
[0028] As shown, the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b may be
hingeably connected to the lateral edges 320'a, 320'b of the front
panel 32'. Each of the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b may define a
forward lateral edge 360'a, 360'b, a rearward lateral edge 362'a,
362'b, a bottom edge 364'a, 364'b, and a top edge 366'a, 366'b. The
lateral edges 320'a, 320'b of the front panel 32' preferably
coextend with the forward lateral edges 360'a, 360'b of the outside
major flaps 36'a, 36'b such that the front panel 32' is connected
to the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b. As shown, the forward
lateral edges 360'a, 360'b of the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b
preferably curve outwardly to complement the inward curvature of
the lateral edges 320'a, 320'b of the front panel 32'.
Additionally, appendages, such as fins 50', that extend from the
rearward lateral edges 362'a, 362'b and bottom edges 364'a, 364'b
of the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b may be integrally formed with
the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b.
[0029] The outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b may define a major axis
(not shown) extending longitudinally through the center of the
outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b and a minor axis (not shown)
transversely bisecting the major axis. As shown in FIG. 4, the
configuration of the forward lateral edges 360'a, 360'b, rearward
lateral edges 362'a, 362'b, bottom edges 364'a, 364'b, and top
edges 366'a, 366'b may give outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b a
truncated-ellipse shape. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the
major axis extends between the bottom edges 364'a, 364'b and top
edges 366'a, 366'b, and the minor axis extends between the forward
lateral edges 360'a, 360'b and rearward lateral edges 362'a,
362'b.
[0030] The base panel 20' preferably has an elongate shape. As
shown, the base panel 20' may have a rectangular shape that defines
a front edge 22', a rear edge 24', and opposite side edges 26'a,
26'b. The front edge 22' of the base panel 20' is hingeably
connected to the bottom edge 322' of the front panel 32'. Although,
the shape of the elongate base panel 20' is shown as a rectangle,
the elongate base panel 20' may have any other suitable shape, for
example, a parallelogram or isosceles trapezoid. Also, as shown,
bottom minor flaps 21'a, 21'b may be hingeably connected to the
side edges 26'a, 26'b of the base panel 20'. Additionally, there is
preferably at least one tab 60' defined by a cut on a portion of
the base panel 20'a djacent the bottom edge 322' of the front panel
32' such that the tab 60' is connected to and extends from the
front panel 32'.
[0031] The base panel 20' preferably has an elongate shape that
defines a major axis (not shown) and a minor axis (not shown) that
are transverse to each other. Preferably, the major axis extends
longitudinally through the center of the elongate base panel 20'
and the minor axis transversely bisects the major axis. As shown in
the embodiment of FIG. 4, the base panel 20' may have a rectangular
shape that defines a front edge 22', a rear edge 24', and opposite
side edges 26'a, 26'b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the major
axis extends between side edge 26'a and side edge 26'b, and the
minor axis extends between front edge 22' and rear edge 24'. As
shown in FIG. 4, the minor axis of the outside major flaps 36'a,
36'b may be longer than the minor axis of the base panel 20', and
the major axis of the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b may be longer
than the major axis of the base panel 20'.
[0032] As shown, the rear panel 34' may define lateral edges 340'a,
340'b, a bottom edge 342', and a top edge 344'. The bottom edge
342' of the rear panel 34' may be hingeably connected to the rear
edge 24' of the base panel 20'. In one embodiment, the lateral
edges 340'a, 340'b may curve inwardly to create a tapered waist and
give the rear panel 34' an hour-glass shape.
[0033] The inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b are hingeably connected to
the lateral edges 340'a, 340'b of the rear panel 34'. As shown,
each of the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b may define a forward
lateral edge 370'a, 370'b, a rearward lateral edge 372'a, 372'b, a
bottom edge 374'a, 374'b, and a top edge 376'a, 376'b. The lateral
edges 340'a, 340' of the rear panel 34' coextend with the rearward
lateral edges 372'a, 372'b of the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b
such that the rear panel 34' is connected to the inside major flaps
37'a, 37'b. Thus, as shown, the rearward lateral edges 372'a, 372'b
of the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b curve outwardly to complement
the inward curvature of the lateral edges 340'a, 340'b of the rear
panel 34'.
[0034] The inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b define a major axis (not
shown) extending longitudinally through the center of the inside
major flaps 37'a, 37'b and a minor axis (not shown) transversely
bisecting the major axis. As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of
the forward lateral edges 370'a, 370'b, rearward lateral edges
372'a, 372'b, bottom edges 374'a, 374'b, and top edges 376'a, 376'b
may give the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b a truncated-ellipse
shape. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the major axis extends
between the bottom edges 374'a, 374'b and top edges 376'a, 376'b,
and the minor axis extends between the forward lateral edges 370'a,
370'b and rearward lateral edges 372'a, 372'b. As shown in FIG. 4,
the minor axis of the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b may be longer
than the minor axis of the base panel 20', and the major axis of
the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b may be longer than the major axis
of the base panel 20'.
[0035] The panels and flaps of the carton blank 100 are hingeably
connected to one another and adapted to be bent with respect to one
another to form a carton 10 in accordance with the above
description. For example, to form the body portion 30 of the carton
10: the front panel 32' and the rear panel 34' may be folded
upwardly from the base panel 20'; the bottom minor flaps 21'a, 21'b
may be folded upwardly from the base panel 20'; the inside major
flaps 37'a, 37'b may be folded inwardly from the rear panel 34';
and the outside major flaps 36'a, 36'b may be folded inwardly from
the front panel 32' and cover the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b. In
order to enclose the body portion 30 of the carton 10, the top
panel 40' may be folded downwardly from the front panel 32', the
top minor flaps 42'a, 42'b may be bent downwardly from the top
panel 40' and inwardly of the inside major flaps 37'a, 37'b, and
the cover flap 44' may be folded over the rear panel 34'.
* * * * *