IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,447,317
Granted Patent B2
US 11,447,317 · App. 16/483,213 · Granted Sep 20, 2022

Carton and blank therefor

Inventors: Matthew E. Zacherle (Chesterfield, VA); Rahul Bhardwaj (US, VA); Linh L. Kooc (Richmond, VA); Bradford J. Walling (Chesterfield, VA)
Assignee: WESTROCK PACKAGING SYSTEMS, LLC
B65D71/44
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,447,317
App. No.
16/483,213
Granted
Sep 20, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to a top engaging carrier formed from a paperboard substrate having a first surface and an opposing second surface, with a polymer film laminated onto the first surface.

Claims (31)

1. A blank for forming an article carrier, the blank comprising:

a generally planar sheet comprising:

a paperboard substrate having opposed first and second surfaces and comprising one or more tabs formed about a periphery of at least one aperture formed in the paperboard substrate; and

at least one polymer layer disposed on the first surface of the paperboard substrate;

wherein the at least one aperture is formed through the generally planar sheet for closely receiving at least one article to be held by the article carrier, and

wherein the one or more tabs are connected to the planar sheet such that the one or more tabs yield out of the plane of the planar sheet when at least one article is received in the at least one aperture so as to bear against the at least one article.

2. A blank according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface faces the lower portion of the article.

3. A blank according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer layer is tear-resistant.

4. A blank according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer layer is polyethylene terephthalate.

5. A blank according to claim 1 , wherein a second polymer layer is attached to the second surface.

6. A blank according to claim 1 , wherein the paperboard substrate has a thickness of no more than 35 mils.

7. A blank according to claim 6 , wherein the thickness of the paperboard substrate is no less than 20 mils.

8. A blank according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer layer has a thickness on no more than 3 mils.

9. A blank according to claim 8 , wherein the thickness of polymer layer is no less than 1 mil.

10. A blank according to claim 1 , wherein the paperboard substrate comprises a wet strength additive.

11. A top engaging carrier for packaging two or more articles comprising,

a main panel which comprises at least two article retention structures each having an aperture formed through the main panel for receiving a portion of an article, and

a handle structure interconnecting the at least two article retention structures,

the main panel further comprising two or more tabs formed about a periphery of each of the apertures, each of the apertures defining a first edge of the tabs of the respective apertures, the tabs being hingedly connected to the main panel such that the tabs yield out of the plane of the main panel when an article is received in the respective aperture so as to bear against the article,

wherein at least one tab is defined at least in part by a radial cutline formed in the main panel, the radial cutline separating at least a portion of the at least one tab from an adjacent tab,

wherein the at least one tab and the adjacent tab each comprise a second edge opposing the first edge, and the main panel comprises a circumferential cutline that defines a portion of the respective second edges of both the at least one tab and the adjacent tab, and

wherein the main panel comprises an additional circumferential cutline that defines another portion of the second edge of the at least one tab.

12. A top engaging carrier according to claim 11 wherein the circumferential cutline is spaced apart from the radial cutline.

13. A top engaging carrier according to claim 11 wherein the radial cutline extends substantially radially from the aperture, and wherein the circumferential cutline is circumferentially arranged with respect to the aperture.

14. A top engaging carrier according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the tabs is connected to an adjacent tab by a connecting portion proximate the circumferential cutline.

15. A top engaging carrier according to claim 11 wherein the main panel comprises a further circumferential cutline that defines another portion of the second edge of the adjacent tab.

16. A top engaging carrier according to claim 11 wherein each of the circumferential cutline, the additional circumferential cutline, and the further circumferential cutline is either a straight line or curved and spaced apart from each other.

17. A blank for forming a top engaging carrier for packaging two or more articles, the blank comprising a main panel which comprises at least two article retention structures each having an aperture formed through the main panel for receiving a portion of an article, and a handle structure interconnecting the at least two article retention structures, the main panel further comprising two or more tabs formed about a periphery of each of the apertures, each of the apertures defining a first edge of the tabs of the respective apertures, the tabs being hingedly connected to the main panel such that the tabs yield out of the plane of the main panel when an article is received in the respective aperture so as to bear against the article, wherein at least one tab is defined at least in part by a radial cutline formed in the main panel, the radial cutline separating at least a portion of the at least one tab from an adjacent tab, wherein the at least one tab and the adjacent tab each comprise a second edge opposing the first edge, and the main panel comprises a circumferential cutline that defines a portion of the respective second edges of both the at least one tab and the adjacent tab, wherein the circumferential cutline is spaced apart from the radial cutline.

18. A blank according to claim 17 wherein the radial cutline extends substantially radially from the aperture.

19. A blank according to claim 17 wherein the circumferential cutline is circumferentially arranged with respect to the aperture.

20. A blank according to claim 17 wherein at least one of the tabs is connected to an adjacent tab by a connecting portion proximate the circumferential cutline.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2019
From: ZACHERLE, MATTHEW E.; KOOC, LINH; WALLING, BRADFORD J.; BHARDWAJ, RAHUL
To: WESTROCK PACKAGING SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 050249/0116 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62473974 · Mar 20, 2017
Provisional Application 62459080 · Feb 15, 2017
Provisional Application 62454106 · Feb 3, 2017
Related Publication 20200010255A1 · Jan 9, 2020
Cited By (13)
US 1,063,642 US 1,063,643 US 1,063,644 US 1,064,845 US 1,064,846 US 1,064,847 US 1,064,848 US 1,076,680 US 1,140,742 US 12,195,256 US 12,486,092 US 12,654,921 US 12,673,809