Granted Patent B2

US 8,439,194 · App. 13/115,273 · Granted May 14, 2013

Abstract

Claims (83)

1. A carton for holding a plurality of containers, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a corner reinforcement flap foldably connected to the top panel;

a reinforcing insert comprising a central panel and at least one reinforcing side flap, the central panel being at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the top panel; and

a container-restraining structure comprising the at least one reinforcing side flap being positioned adjacent the first side panel to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the first side panel, and the corner reinforcement flap positioned adjacent the second side panel to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the second side panel;

wherein the at least one reinforcing side flap comprises a proximal portion foldably connected to the central panel, an intermediate portion foldably connected to the proximal portion, and a distal portion foldably connected to the intermediate portion, and

wherein the distal portion of the at least one reinforcing side flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the first side panel.

2. The carton of claim 1 , wherein:

each of the proximal portion and the intermediate portion of the at least one reinforcing side flap extends in an oblique direction;

the corner reinforcement flap comprises a first portion foldably connected to the top panel, a second portion foldably connected to the first portion, a third portion foldably connected to the second portion, and a fourth portion foldably connected to the third portion;

the first portion of the corner reinforcement flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side panel, the fourth portion of the corner reinforcement flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top panel adjacent the central panel, and the second portion and the third portion of the corner reinforcement flap extend into the interior of the carton from the respective first and fourth portions of the corner reinforcement flap.

3. The carton of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one reinforcing side flap comprises a first reinforcing side flap, and the reinforcing insert further comprises a second reinforcing side flap foldably connected to the central panel; and

the second reinforcing side flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the central panel.

4. The carton of claim 3 , further comprising a handle comprising features extending in at least the top panel, the central panel, and the second reinforcing side flap.

5. The carton of claim 1 , wherein:

the corner reinforcement flap comprises a first portion foldably connected to the top panel, a second portion foldably connected to the first portion, a third portion foldably connected to the second portion, and a fourth portion foldably connected to the third portion; and

the first portion of the corner reinforcement flap is secured at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side panel, the fourth portion of the corner reinforcement flap is secured at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top panel adjacent the central panel, and the second portion and the third portion of the corner reinforcement flap extend into the interior of the carton from the respective first and fourth portions of the corner reinforcement flap.

6. The carton of claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the corner reinforcement flap extends generally parallel to the top panel, and the third portion of the corner reinforcement flap extends in an oblique direction.

7. The carton of claim 5 , wherein:

the at least one reinforcing side flap is foldably connected to the central panel along a transverse fold line;

the at least one reinforcing side flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the central panel; and

the fourth portion of the corner reinforcement flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top panel adjacent the transverse fold line.

8. The carton of claim 3 , further comprising at least two end flaps respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two end flaps comprising a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, wherein:

the end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton;

the central panel comprises at least one reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the central panel; and

the at least one reinforcing end flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top end flap.

9. A carton for holding a plurality of containers, the carton comprising:

a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a corner reinforcement flap foldably connected to the top panel;

a reinforcing insert comprising a central panel and at least one reinforcing side flap, the central panel being at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the top panel;

a container-restraining structure comprising the at least one reinforcing side flap being positioned adjacent the first side panel to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the first side panel, and the corner reinforcement flap positioned adjacent the second side panel to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the second side panel; and

at least two end flaps respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two end flaps comprising a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, wherein:

the end flaps are overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton;

the central panel comprises at least one reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the central panel; and

the at least one reinforcing end flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top end flap, wherein at least a portion of the top end flap and the at least one reinforcing end flap extend in an oblique direction with respect to the top panel so that the at least one reinforcing end flap is positioned to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the closed end of the carton.

10. The carton of claim 8 , wherein:

at least one inner reinforcing end flap is foldably connected to the second reinforcing side flap and is in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the at least one reinforcing end flap.

11. In combination, a carton blank and an insert blank for forming a carton having container-restraining features for restraining movement of containers in the carton,

the carton blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a corner reinforcement flap foldably connected to the top panel;

the insert blank comprising:

a central panel and at least one reinforcing side flap foldably connected to the central panel, the central panel for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the top panel;

wherein the container-restraining features comprise the at least one reinforcing side flap that is for being positioned adjacent the first side panel to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the first side panel, and the corner reinforcement flap that is for being positioned adjacent the second side panel to restrain at least one container that is adjacent the second side panel in the carton formed from the carton blank and the insert blank,

wherein the at least one reinforcing side flap comprises a proximal portion foldably connected to the central panel, an intermediate portion foldably connected to the proximal portion, and a distal portion foldably connected to the intermediate portion, and

wherein the distal portion of the at least one reinforcing side flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the first side panel.

12. The combination of claim 11 , wherein:

each of the proximal portion and the intermediate portion of the at least one reinforcing side flap extends in an oblique direction when the carton is formed from the carton blank and the insert blank;

the corner reinforcement flap comprises a first portion foldably connected to the top panel, a second portion foldably connected to the first portion, a third portion foldably connected to the second portion, and a fourth portion foldably connected to the third portion;

the first portion of the corner reinforcement flap is for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side panel and the fourth portion of the corner reinforcement flap is for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top panel adjacent the central panel when the carton is formed from the carton blank and the insert blank.

13. The combination of claim 11 , wherein:

the at least one reinforcing side flap comprises a first reinforcing side flap, and the insert blank further comprises a second reinforcing side flap foldably connected to the central panel; and

the second reinforcing side flap is for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with the central panel in the carton formed from the carton blank and the insert blank.

14. The combination of claim 13 , further comprising a handle comprising features extending in at least the top panel, the central panel, and the second reinforcing side flap.

15. The combination of claim 11 , wherein:

the corner reinforcement flap comprises a first portion foldably connected to the top panel, a second portion foldably connected to the first portion, a third portion foldably connected to the second portion, and a fourth portion foldably connected to the third portion; and

the first portion of the corner reinforcement flap is for being secured at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side panel and the fourth portion of the corner reinforcement flap is for being secured at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top panel adjacent the central panel when the carton is formed from the carton blank and the insert blank.

16. The combination of claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the corner reinforcement flap comprises at least one corner end flap.

17. The combination of claim 13 , further comprising at least two end flaps respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two end flaps comprising a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, wherein the central panel comprises at least one reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and the at least one reinforcing end flap is for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top end flap in the carton formed from the carton blank and the insert blank.

18. In combination, a carton blank and an insert blank for forming a carton having container-receiving features for restricting movement of containers in the carton,

the carton blank comprising:

a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a corner reinforcement flap foldably connected to the top panel;

the insert blank comprising:

a central panel and at least one reinforcing side flap foldably connected to the central panel, the central panel for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the top panel;

wherein the container-restraining features comprise the at least one reinforcing side flap that is for being positioned adjacent the first side panel to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the first side panel, and the corner reinforcement flap that is for being positioned adjacent the second side panel to restrain at least one container that is adjacent the second side panel in the carton formed from the carton blank and the insert blank; and

at least two end flaps respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two end flaps comprising a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, wherein the central panel comprises at least one reinforcing end flap foldably connected to the central panel, and the at least one reinforcing end flap is for being positioned at least partially in face-to-face contact with the top end flap in the carton formed from the carton blank and the insert blank,

wherein at least a portion of the top end flap and the at least one reinforcing end flap extend in an oblique direction with respect to the top panel so that the at least one reinforcing end flap is positioned to restrain at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent a closed end of the carton formed from the carton blank and the insert blank.

19. The combination of claim 17 , wherein:

at least one inner reinforcing end flap is foldably connected to the at least one second reinforcing side flap and is for being positioned in face-to-face contact with at least a portion of the at least one reinforcing end flap when the carton is formed from the carton blank and the insert blank.

20. A method of forming a carton comprising:

obtaining a carton blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a bottom panel foldably connected to the first side panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a corner reinforcement flap foldably connected to the top panel;

obtaining an insert blank comprising a central panel and at least one reinforcing side flap foldably connected to the central panel;

positioning the insert blank relative to the carton blank so that the central panel overlaps at least a portion of the top panel;

forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels; and

forming a container-restraining structure comprising the at least one reinforcement side flap and the corner reinforcement flap, wherein the forming the container-restraining structure comprises positioning the at least one reinforcing side flap adjacent the first side panel for restraining at least one container adjacent the first side panel and positioning the corner reinforcement flap adjacent the second side panel for restraining at least one container adjacent the second side panel in the interior of the carton, wherein the at least one reinforcing side flap comprises a proximal portion foldably connected to the central panel, an intermediate portion foldably connected to the proximal portion, and a distal portion foldably connected to the intermediate portion, and wherein the distal portion of the at least one reinforcing side flap is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the first side panel.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the forming the interior of the carton comprises:

securing a first portion of the corner reinforcing flap to the top panel adjacent the central panel; and

folding the first side panel, the bottom panel, and the second side panel around the interior of the carton and securing a second portion of the corner reinforcing flap to the second side panel.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the positioning the corner reinforcement flap comprises folding at least a third portion of the corner reinforcement flap to extend into the interior of the carton from at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the corner reinforcing flap.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the positioning the at least one reinforcing side flap for restraining at least one container further comprises securing the distal portion of the at least one reinforcing side flap to the first side panel.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein:

the at least one reinforcing side flap comprises a first reinforcing side flap, and the insert blank further comprises a second reinforcing side flap foldably connected to the central panel; and

the method further comprises securing the second reinforcing side flap at least partially in face-to-face contact with the central panel to reinforce the top panel.

25. The carton of claim 1 , wherein:

the intermediate portion of the at least one reinforcing side flap is configured to restrain the at least one container of the plurality of containers that is adjacent the first side panel.

Assignments (10)