Fully Enclosed Carton For Returnable Items

Abstract

A fully enclosed carton having top, bottom and spaced sidewalls foldably joined along their side edges to form a tubular structure is provided with a longitudinal partition panel foldably joined to the bottom and top walls and the ends of the carton are provided with end closures which are of a composite construction. Each end closure comprises top and bottom end flaps foldably joined to the top and bottom walls respectively together with side end flaps which are foldably joined together in flat face contacting relation to close the carton ends. A pair of transverse weakened severance lines are formed in spaced relation in the top wall and in the upper portions of the sidewalls to provide a handle for the carrier and a reinforcing panel is struck from the top portion of the partition panel and folded into flat face contacting relation with an interior surface portion of the top wall so as to afford reinforcement therefor.

Description

Where totally enclosed cartons are employed to package a plurality of consumer items such as primary packages made of glass and where such items are of the returnable type, it is difficult to provide a secure carton which is adapted to afford ready access to the interior thereof without weakening the carton to such an extent that it may be an inadequate structure for use in returning the returnable items such as empty bottles.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a reinforcing panel is struck from the top center portion of a medial partition panel and folded into flat face contacting relation with a lower surface portion of the top wall along one side thereof, the other side of the top wall being reinforced by an inner top wall panel foldably joined along its side edges to the upper edge of the partition panel and to the upper edge of one of the sidewalls. By this means, a sturdy structure is provided which also is adapted to afford ready access to the interior of the carton.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a totally enclosed carton constructed according to this invention and which shows the handle structure in its normal closed position; FIG. 2 is a view generally similar to FIG. 1 but which shows the handle structure in its carrying position; FIG. 3 is a plan view of a unitary blank from which the carton as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line designated 4-4 in FIG. 1 and in which FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing certain internal structure and representing an intermediate stage through which the blank of FIG. 3 is manipulated to form the completed carton as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally designates the top wall of the carton to the side edge 2 of which a sidewall 3 is foldably joined. Bottom wall 4 is foldably joined to sidewall 3 along fold line 5 and sidewall 6 is foldably joined to bottom wall 4 along fold line 7. Inner top wall panel 8 is foldably joined to sidewall panel 6 along fold line 9 and medial partition panel 10 is foldably joined to inner top wall panel 8 along fold lines 11 and 12. A glue flap 13 is foldably joined to the bottom edge of medial partition panel 10 along fold line 14. Handle panels are defined by weakened severance lines 15, 16, 17 and 18.

In order to form an open ended tubular structure from the bottom, side and top walls as generally described above, an application of glue is made to the inner upper surface of glue flap 13 and to portions 19 and 20 of the inner upper surface of outer top wall panel 1 as well as to the handle portion between severance lines 15 and 16 as indicated by stippling in FIG. 3. Following this application of glue, the inner top wall panel 8 and the medial partition 10 and glue flap 13 are elevated and folded forwardly along the fold line 9 to cause the glue flap 13 to adhere to the bottom panel 4 so that the bottom edge of medial partition panel 10 is disposed longitudinally and medially of bottom panel 4. Following this operation, sidewall 3 and outer top panel 1 are elevated and folded forwardly along the fold line 5. This operation causes the handle portion of the outer top wall panel 1 which is defined by the spaced apart transverse severance lines 15 and 16 to adhere to the portions of the blank defined by and interposed between the weakened severance lines 17 and 18. Simultaneously, the stippled portions of the outer top wall panel 1 which are designated generally by the numerals 19 and 20 adhere to the outer surface of the ends of inner top wall panel 8.

When the tubular structure as described is formed, the items to be packaged are then inserted into the carton from one or both ends.

In order to close the ends of the carton, the bottom end flaps 21 and 22 are folded upwardly along their respective fold lines 23 and 24 and the top end flaps 25 and 26 are folded downwardly along the weakened severance lines 27 and 28 which interconnect these top end flaps with the outer top wall panel 1. Thereafter, side end flaps 29--32 inclusive are folded inwardly along their respective fold lines 33--36 and an appropriate application of glue (not shown) is employed in known a manner to secure all these end flaps so that end closures are formed at each end of the carton. When thus formed the carton affords a complete closure for its contents.

The handle structure for the carton is defined in part by the severance lines 15 and 16 formed in spaced apart transverse relation in the outer top wall panel 1. A medial fold line 37 separates the outer handle panels 38 and 39 in which apertures are defined by hand gripping flaps 40 and 41.

Severance line 15 extends into sidewall 3 along a divergent severance line 42 while severance line 16 extends into sidewall 3 along divergent severance line 43.

Severance lines 17 and 18 extend into sidewall 6 along divergent severance lines 44 and 45 respectively and handle panels 46 and 47 are separated by medial fold line 48. Hand gripping flaps 49 and 50 define hand gripping apertures in handle panels 46 and 47 respectively.

When the carton is assembled in completed form as shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, handle panels 38 and 39 are disposed in flat face contacting relation to inner handle panels 46 and 47. Furthermore, when the handle panels are grasped as by extending the fingers through the hand gripping apertures defined by flaps 40, 41, 49 and 50 and the carton and its contents lifted, the handle panels are severed from the top wall structure along the severance lines 15 and 16 and the coincidental severance lines 17 and 18. Furthermore, the severance lines 42, 43, 44 and 45 in all probability are severed at least to some extent. When the carton is picked up in this fashion, the handle structure appears substantially as shown in FIG. 2.

Handle panel 46 in reality is struck from the upper center portion of medial partition panel 10 and since this handle panel is secured in flat face contacting relation to the inner surface of outer handle panel 39, panel 46 is recited in the claims as a reinforcing panel. Furthermore it is apparent from the drawing that the spaced severance lines 15, 16 and the coincidental severance lines 17 and 18 coincide respectively with the end edges of reinforcing panel 46. Thus according to this aspect of the invention, handle structure is provided which is of two-ply construction and hence is of a sturdy and durable nature and well suited for use as a handle for a carton used in connection with returnable bottles.

For the purpose of facilitating opening of the carton, a pair of removable tear strips generally designated at 51 and 52 are formed within the outer top wall panel 1. These tear strips are of conventional configuration and when removed simply divide each end portion of the outer top wall panel 1 into two separate panels 19, 20, 53 and 54 which may be hinged upwardly to open position. Opening of panels 19, 20, 53 and 54 is facilitated by the fact that the top end panels 25 and 26 are foldably joined to the end edges of panels 19, 53 and of panels 20 and 54 along the weakened severance lines 27 and 28 respectively.

In order to prevent undue and undesired tearing of panels 19 and 20, 53 and 54 it may be desirable to form slash lines such as are indicated by the numerals 55, 56, 57 and 58 in the panels such as 19 and 53. Of course similar slash lines may be formed in panels 20 and 54 if desired.

With the panels 19, 20, 53 and 54 swung to the open position, it is obvious that ready access to the contents of the carton is afforded. Furthermore after the contents of the bottles are used, the bottles may be replaced within the carton and the panels such as 19, 20, 53 and 54 may then be closed if desired.

Since the side end panels such as 29, 32 are glued in face contacting relation to the bottom end panels 21 and 22, the end closures for the carton are not ruptured and serve as adequate closures during the return operation even though top end panels such as 25 and 26 are now severed from the end edges of panels 19, 53 and 20, 54 along their respective lines of severance 27 and 28.

Claims

I claim:

1. A carton comprising a bottom wall, a top wall including an inner top wall panel and an outer top wall panel, a pair of sidewalls foldably joined to the side edges of said bottom wall, said inner top wall panel foldably joined to the top edge of one of said sidewalls and having its opposite inner edge disposed medially of said top wall longitudinally thereof, a longitudinal partition panel foldably joined to the inner edge of said inner top wall panel and having its bottom edge foldably joined to said bottom wall medially thereof, said outer top wall panel foldably joined to the upper edge of the other of said sidewalls and secured in face contacting relation to said inner top wall panel, and a reinforcing panel struck from the top portion of said partition panel and disposed in flat face contacting relation to the inner surface of said outer top wall panel and disposed on the opposite side of said partition panel from said inner top wall panel and forming therewith a two-ply reinforcement for a portion of said top wall.

2. A carton according to claim 1 wherein spaced apart severance lines are formed in said top wall transversely thereof and arranged to extend downwardly into the upper portions of said sidewalls and defining therebetween a handle structure having a least one hand gripping aperture therein.

3. A carton according to claim 2 wherein said severance lines coincide approximately with the end edges of said reinforcing panel whereby the portion of said handle structure which is formed from said top wall is to of two-ply construction.

4. A carton according to claim 2 wherein a pair of longitudinal tear strips are formed in said top wall substantially medially thereof, each tear strip extending from one of said severance lines to the adjacent end edge of said top wall whereby access to the interior of the carton is afforded without severing other parts of the carton.

5. A carton according to claim 2 wherein top end flaps are foldably joined to the end edges respectively of said outer top wall panel along weakened severance lines, each top end flap forming a portion of an end closure for one end of the carton.

6. A carton according to claim 5 wherein a side end flap is foldably joined to each end edge of both of said sidewalls and wherein a bottom end flap is foldably joined to each end edge of said bottom wall, said top and bottom end flaps being secured in flat face contacting relation with said side end flaps at each end of the carton to form an end closure therefor which is severable from the end edges of said outer top wall to afford access to the interior of the carton without rupturing said end closures.