CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/703,031, filed on July 25, 2018.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

[0002] The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/703,031, which was filed on

July 25, 2018, is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to carriers or cartons for holding and displaying containers. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to basket-style carriers that include one or more curved features.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a carrier for holding a plurality of containers comprises a plurality of panels at least partially extending around an interior space of the carrier, the plurality of panels includes a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel. The carrier further comprises at least one curved comer and at least one curved divider flap extending from the at least one central panel to one of the front panel and the back panel in the interior space of the carrier.

[0005] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers comprises a plurality of panels for at least partially extending around an interior space of the carrier formed from the blank, the plurality of panels includes a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel. The blank further comprises at least one comer portion for forming at least one curved comer of the carrier formed from the blank, and at least one divider flap for curvedly extending from the at least one central panel to one of the front panel and the back panel in the interior space of the carrier formed from the blank. [0006] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers comprises obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a front panel, a back panel, at least one side panel, and at least one bottom panel, at least one comer portion, and at least one divider flap. The method further comprises folding the plurality of panels at least partially around an interior of the carrier, curving the at least one comer portion to form at least one curved comer, and positioning the at least one divider flap to curvedly extend from the at least one central panel to one of the front panel and the back panel in the interior space of the carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages and other advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments reading the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the below-listed drawing figures. It is within the scope of the present disclosure that the above-discussed aspects be provided both individually and in various combinations.

[0008] 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 disclosure.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a plan view of an exterior surface of a blank for forming a carrier according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

[0010] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a partially folded configuration of a carrier folded from the blank of

Fig. 1.

[0011] Fig. 3 is a plan view of another partially folded configuration of a carrier folded from the blank of Fig. 1.

[0012] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier formed from the blank of Fig. 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the carrier of Fig. 4.

[0014] Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of the carrier of Fig. 4.

[0015] Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of the carrier of Fig. 4.

[0016] Fig. 8 is a plan view of the carrier of Fig. 4. [0017] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present disclosure generally relates to carriers, packages, constructs, sleeves, cartons, or the like, for holding and displaying containers such as jars, bottles, cans, etc. The containers can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The containers can be made from materials suitable in composition for packaging the particular food or beverage item, and the materials include, but are not limited to, glass; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like; aluminum and/or other metals; or any combination thereof.

[0019] Carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodate containers of numerous different shapes. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detailed description describes beverage containers (e.g., glass bottles) at least partially disposed within the carrier embodiments. In this specification, the terms“lower,” “bottom,”“upper,”“top,”“front,” and“back” indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected carriers.

[0020] As described herein, cartons can be formed by multiple overlapping panels, portions, and/or end flaps. Such panels, portions, and/or end flaps can be designated in relative terms to one another, e.g.,“first”,“second”,“third”, etc., in sequential or non-sequential reference, without departing from the disclosure.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the exterior side 101 of a blank 103 used to form a package or basket-style carrier 105 (Fig. 4), in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 4, the carrier 105 is sized to contain six containers C, three containers C being contained in a front portion 106 of the carrier 105 and three containers C being contained in a back portion 108 of the carrier 105. As described herein, the carrier 105 has generally curved divider flaps l99a, l99b, 2l3a, 213b (broadly,“first curved divider flap”,“second curved divider flap” or “third curved divider flap”, “second curved divider flap”, and “fourth curved divider flap”, respectively) that are at least partially reconfigurable to a generally curved configuration, and is provided with generally curved comers 223, 225, 227, 229 (broadly,“first curved comer”,“second curved comer”,“third curved comer”, and“fourth curved comer”, respectively) (Fig. 8) that provides a distinctive configuration of the carrier 105. In the illustrated embodiment, the containers C can be beverage bottles, but the containers C could be any other suitable type and size of container without departing from the disclosure. The carrier 105 can be sized and shaped to hold more or less than six containers C. In one embodiment, the front portion 106 and the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 each have three containers C. In other embodiments, the front portion 106 and the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 can hold more or less than three containers C without departing from the disclosure.

[0022] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the blank 103 has a longitudinal axis LX and a lateral axis LY. The blank 103 has a front portion 107 for forming the front portion 106 of the carrier 105, and a back portion 109 for forming the back portion 108 of the carrier 105. In one embodiment, the front portion 107 and the back portion 109 intersect at the longitudinal centerline CL of the blank 103, as shown. As discussed in further detail below, the blank 103 is at least partially formed into the carrier 105 by folding the blank 103 about fold lines 119, 121 along the centerline CL so that the front portion 107 and the back portion 109 of the blank 103 are overlapped in at least partial face-to-face contact.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the front portion 107 of the blank 103 comprises a front panel l25a and a first comer portion l27a foldably connected to the front panel l25a at a lateral fold line l29a. A first front side panel 13 la is foldably connected to the comer portion l27a at a lateral fold line l33a. The comer portion l27a, as shown, includes a plurality of lateral fold lines l35a, l37a, l39a, l4la such that the comer portion l27a defines a flexibly reconfigurable portion of the blank 103 for forming the first curved comer 223 of the carrier 105 (Fig. 8). In one embodiment, the plurality of lateral fold lines that form the first curved comer 223 of the carrier 105 can include one or both of the lateral fold lines l29a, l33a. While the comer portion l27a has been described as a portion of the blank 103 that is foldably connected to each of the side panel 13 la and the front panel l25a, the comer portion l27a can be a portion of one or both of the side panel 13 la and the front panel l25a without departing from the disclosure.

[0024] The front portion 107 of the blank 103 also includes a second comer portion l43a foldably connected to the front panel l25a at a lateral fold line l45a and a second front side panel l47a foldably connected to the comer portion l43a at a lateral fold line l49a. The comer portion l43a, as shown, includes a plurality of lateral fold lines l5la, l53a, l55a, l57a such that the comer portion 143 a defines a flexibly reconfigurable portion of the blank 103 for forming the second curved comer 225 of the carrier 105 (Fig. 8). In one embodiment, the plurality of lateral fold lines that form the second curved comer 225 of the carrier 105 can include one or both of the lateral fold lines l45a, l49a. While the comer portion l43a has been described as a portion of the blank 103 that is foldably connected to each of the side panel l47a and the front panel l25a, the comer portion l43a can be a portion of one or both of the side panel l47a and the front panel l25a without departing from the disclosure. A keel l6la (broadly,“first keel”), as shown, is also foldably connected to the second side panel l47a at a lateral fold fine l63a. [0025] As shown in Fig. 1, the front portion 107 of the blank 103 also includes handle features for forming a handle 222 of the carrier 105 and that include a front handle reinforcement flap l65a foldably connected to a central panel 167a at portion of a lateral fold line l69a and separated from the front panel l25a, the comer portion l27a, and the first front side panel l27a by a longitudinal cut l7la. The front handle reinforcement flap l65a includes an opening l73a and a handle flap l75a adjacent to the opening l73a that is separable from the handle reinforcement flap l65a at a generally elongate U-shaped cut line l70a and foldably connected to the handle reinforcement flap l65a at a line of weakening l76a.

[0026] The front portion 107 of the blank 103, as shown in Fig. 1, also includes a front bottom panel

177 foldably connected to the front panel l25a at a longitudinal fold line l79a. In one embodiment, the bottom panel 177 includes female locking features 181. The female locking features 181, as shown, include respective slits 183, 185 that partially define respective opening flaps 187, 189 foldably connected to the bottom panel 177 along respective curved fold lines 191, 193. The slits 183, 185 and respective opening flaps 187, 189 cooperate to receive respective secondary locking tab projections 233, 235 of a back bottom panel 223 of the back portion 109 of the blank 103, as described herein. The female locking features 181 also include openings 195 that receive primary locking tab projections 227 of the back bottom panel 223 of the back portion 109 of the blank 103, as described herein. Additional openings or apertures 196 can be provided in the front bottom panel 177, for example, for ventilation, drainage of condensation or other moisture, and/or to provide visibility to bottom portions of containers held in the carrier 105.

[0027] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, and as described above, the front central panel l67a is foldably connected to the first front side panel l27a at a portion of the lateral fold line l69a. The central panel l67a also includes additional handle features including a handle opening l97a. As shown in Fig. 1, a first divider flap l99a is foldably connected to the central panel l67a at a lateral fold line 20la. An attachment flap 203a is foldably attached to the divider flap l99a at a lateral fold line 205a. The attachment flap 203a is at least partially separable from a second divider flap 213a at a lateral line of weakening 207a. The divider flap l99a, as shown, is at least partially separable from the remainder of the central panel l67a at lines of weakening 209a, 21 la that each extend from respective endpoints of the lateral fold line 20 la to respective endpoints of the line of weakening 207a. One or both of the lines of weakening 209a, 21 la, as shown, can include one or more curved or angled portions. [0028] As also shown, the second divider flap 2l3a is foldably connected to the central panel l67a at a lateral fold line 2l5a that is interrupted by the attachment flap 203a. The second divider flap 2l3a is at least partially separable from the central panel l67a at a line of weakening 2l7a that extends from an endpoint of the fold line 215a to a free edge of the blank 103, and an attachment flap 219a is at least partially defined adjacent the divider flap 2l3a by a line of weakening 22la that can include one or more curved or angled portions. As described herein, the attachment flap 2l9a can be at least partially foldably or hingedly connected to the divider flap 2l3a at one or more portions of the line of weakening 22 la.

[0029] In one embodiment, the divider flaps l99a, 213a have respective lengths Ll, L2 that correspond to a longitudinal distance from the respective lateral fold line 20 la to the fold line 205a, and from the fold line 2l5a to a lateral portion of the line of weakening 22la. The central panel l67a could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured, and could have other features, without departing from the disclosure.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the features of the back portion 109 of the blank 103 include, for example, a back panel l25b, a first back side panel 13 lb, a second back side panel l47b, a back keel 16 lb (broadly,“second keel”), a back central panel l67b, a third comer portion l43b, a fourth comer portion l27b, a reinforcement flap l65b, a first divider flap l99b, and a second divider flap 213b having associated features such that the back portion 109 of the blank 103 is generally a mirror- image of the corresponding panels, flaps, and portions of the front portion 107 of the blank 103. Corresponding components (e.g., panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, etc.) have been designated by corresponding reference numbers that differ by the“a” or“b” suffix, with the“a” components corresponding to the front portion 107 of the blank 103 and the“b” components corresponding to the back portion 109 of the blank 103.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 1, and in contrast to the front portion 107, the back portion 109 of the blank

103 includes a back bottom panel 223 having male locking features 225 and being foldably connected to the back panel l25b at the longitudinal fold line l79b. The male locking features 225 include the primary locking tab projections 227 that are at least partially defined along a line of weakening 229 of the bottom panel 223, as shown. The projections 227 can be formed by tears or cuts 231 that extend between portions of the line of weakening 229. As described herein, the primary locking tab projections 227 are at least partially insertable through the openings 195 in the bottom panel 177. The male locking features 225, as shown, also include the secondary locking tab projections 233, 235 that are foldably connected to the bottom panel 223 at fold lines 237 and are at least partially insertable through the respective slits 183, 185 and/or openings formed by the respective opening flaps 187, 189 of the front bottom panel 177, as described herein. [0032] Any of the panels, flaps, fold lines, cuts, or other features could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or omitted from the blank 103 without departing from the disclosure. The blank 103 could be sized and/or shaped to accommodate more or less than six containers without departing from this disclosure.

[0033] Still referring to Fig. 1, and referring additionally to Figs. 2-4, in one embodiment, the carrier

105 can be formed or erected by obtaining the blank 103 and placing or positioning the blank 103 with the exterior surface 101 facing down and an exterior surface 102 of the blank 103 facing upward. The front central panel l67a and the back central panel l67b can be folded at the respective fold lines l69a, l69b in the direction of the arrow Al such that one or more portions of the central panels l67a, l67b are positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with one or more portions of the respective side panel 13 la, 13 lb, respective comer portions l27a, l27b, respective central panels l25a, l25b, and respective handle reinforcement flaps l65a, l65b. Such folding can position at least the respective attachment flaps 203a, 219a and 203b, 219b in at least partial face-to-face contact with portions of the respective central panels l25a, l25b, and which can be adhered thereto with an adhesive such as glue.

[0034] Thereafter or simultaneously, the respective side panels l47a, l47b can be folded at the respective fold lines l49a, l49b in the direction of the arrow A2 such that the side panel l47a and the keel 16 la carried therewith are positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with respective portions of the comer portion l43a and the central panel l25a, and such that the side panel l47b and the keel 16 lb carried therewith are positioned in at least partial face-to-face contact with respective portions of the comer portion l43b and the central panel l25b. Such folded configuration is illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0035] The front portion 107 of the blank 103 and the back portion 109 of the blank 103 can be folded at the fold lines 119, 121 in the direction of the arrow A3 into at least partial face-to-face contact, and at least the respective central panels l67a, l67b and respective keels 161, 161b can be maintained in such relation with an adhesive such as glue. Such folded configuration is illustrated in Fig. 3.

[0036] Referring additionally to Figs. 4-8, the front panel 125a and the back panel 125b can be separated from one another into at generally parallel relation and such that the comer portions 127a, 143a, 143b, 127a flex, bend, and/or curve at least at the respective plurality of fold lines 135a, 137a, 139a, 141a, the plurality of fold lines 151a, 153a, 155a, 157a, the plurality of fold lines 151b, 153b, 155b, 157b, and the plurality of fold lines 135b, 137b, 139b, 141b to form the respective curved comers 223, 225, 227, 229 of the carrier 105. In such a configuration, the keels 161a, 161b are brought into proximity with but maintained in substantially coplanar separation with the marginal portion of the respective central panels l67a, l67b to be spaced apart therefrom. The handle reinforcement flaps l65a, l65b are overlapped in at least partial face-to-face contact on an upper portion of the respective central panels l67a, l67b such that the openings l73a, l73b of the respective handle reinforcement flaps l65a, l65b are aligned with the respective openings l97a, l97b of the respective central panels l67a, l67b to form a handle 222 of the carrier, with the keels 16 la, 16 lb positioned therebelow. As the keels l6la, 16 lb are disposed below the handle 222 and are spaced apart from the handle 222 so as to not form a part thereof, significant material savings can be recognized as compared to, for example, a carrier for a handle that includes one or more upwardly- extending portions of a keel.

[0037] In such an arrangement, an interior space 110 of the carrier 105 is defined, with a front interior space l lOa of the carrier 105 in the front portion 106 of the carrier 105 between the front panel l25a and the central panel l67a, and a back interior space 1 lOb of the carrier 105 in the back portion 108 of the carrier 105 between the back panel l25b and the central panel l67b.

[0038] As shown, the divider flaps l99a, 213a are folded away from the remainder of the central panel l67a and separated from one another along portions of the respective lines of weakening 209a, 207a, 21 la, 217a, and the divider flaps l99b, 213b are folded away from the remainder of the central panel l67b and separated from one another along portions of the respective lines of weakening 209b, 207b, 21 lb, 2l7b. In such an arrangement, the divider flaps l99a, 2l3a extend from the central panel l67a to the front panel l25a and the attachment flaps 203a, 2l9a are folded into at least partial face- to-face contact with the front panel l25a to define three container-receiving spaces 239 in the front interior space 1 lOa of the carrier 105, and the divider flaps l99b, 2l3b extend from the central panel l67b to the back panel l25b and the attachment flaps 203b, 2l9b are folded into at least partial face- to-face contact with the back panel l25b to define three container-receiving spaces 241 in the back interior space 110b of the carrier 105.

[0039] The bottom panels 177, 223 can be folded toward each other at respective fold lines l79a, l79b. The respective primary locking tab projections 227 can be at least partially separated from the bottom panel 223 along the line of weakening 229 and/or the cuts 231 and at least partially inserted into the respective openings 195 to form a primary lock of the carrier 105. The respective secondary locking tab projections 233, 235 of the bottom panel 223 can be folded at respective fold lines 237 or can remain in a substantially planar configuration relative to the remainder of the bottom panel 223 and extend into the respective slits 183, 185 and/or respective openings formed by movement of the opening flaps 187, 189 relative to the bottom panel 177 to form a secondary lock of the carrier 105. Such an arrangement of a primary lock and a secondary lock contributes to a substantially secure arrangement of the bottom panels 177, 223 for example, to resist relative movement of the bottom panels 177, 223 such as separation and/or lateral shifting. The bottom panels 117, 223 can be provided with a different closure configuration without departing from the disclosure.

[0040] The overlap and contact of various portions of the blank 103 as described herein can be accomplished with an adhesive such as glue, or, in embodiments, through alternative closures such as tabs and slots. In embodiments, the aforementioned steps in forming the carrier 105 from the blank 103 can be performed differently, for example, in a different order, to form the carrier 105.

[0041] As shown, the interior spaces 1 lOa, 1 lOb are each defined by a distance D corresponding to a distance that the front panel l25a is positioned from the central panel l67a as well as a distance that the back panel l25b is positioned from the central panel l67b, and with the lengths Ll, L2 (Fig. 1) of the divider flaps l99a, 2l3a, l99b, 2l3b being greater than the distance D. In one embodiment, one or more of the divider flaps l99a, 2l3a, l99b, 2l3b is curved so as to curvedly extend from the respective central panel l67a, l67b to the respective panel l25a, l25b and to define a radius of curvature along at least a portion thereof that is equal to about half of D, i.e., D/2. The divider flaps l99a, 2l3a, l99b, 2l3b could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from the disclosure.

[0042] In this regard, the divider flaps l99a, 2l3a, l99b, 213b are positioned to extend between the central panels 145, l45b and the front or back panel l25a, l25b with a generally curved configuration. In particular, in order to accommodate the spacing D between the front panel l25a and the central panel l67a as well as the back panel l25b and the central panel l67b, the divider flaps l99a, 213a, l99b, 2l3b at least partially curve, bend, fold and/or flex upon formation or erection of the carrier 105. As such, the divider flaps l99a, 213a, l99b, 213b are at least partially reconfigurable toward a generally curved configuration so as to accommodate the spacing D of the interior spaces 1 lOa, 1 lOb as compared to, for example, conventional divider flaps having a straight configuration that is not reconfigurable so as to have interior spaces with a spacing greater than Dl. Further, when the containers C are disposed in the carrier 105, the divider flaps l99a, 2l3a, l99b, 2l3b can closely engage or approximate the curvature of a respective adjacent container C, for example, to minimize free space in the interior spaces 1 lOa, 1 lOb of the carrier 105. In one embodiment, one or more of the divider flaps l99a, 213a, l99b, 213b can include one or more lines of weakening to facilitate such curvature, bending, folding, and/or flexing.

[0043] As also shown, the curved comers 223, 225, 227, 229 of the carrier 105 provide a visually distinctive configuration of the carrier 105 to allow customers to readily identify the carrier 105 among other retail products. Furthermore, the containers C disposed in the outermost container- receiving spaces 239, 241 adjacent the respective curved comers 223, 225, 227, 229 are closely engaged, e.g., contoured, by the respective curved comers 223, 225, 227, 229, for example, to minimize empty space in the carrier 105 so as to optimize storage and/or shipping operations and to provide a stable arrangement of the containers C in the carrier 105.

[0044] As an example, a tear line can include: a slit that extends partially into the material along the desired line of weakness, and/or a series of spaced apart slits that extend partially into and/or completely through the material along the desired line of weakness, or various combinations of these features. As a more specific example, one type tear line is in the form of a series of spaced apart slits that extend completely through the material, with adjacent slits being spaced apart slightly so that a nick (e.g., a small somewhat bridging-like piece of the material) is defined between the adjacent slits for typically temporarily connecting the material across the tear line. The nicks are broken during tearing along the tear line. The nicks typically are a relatively small percentage of the tear line, and alternatively the nicks can be omitted from or tom in a tear line such that the tear line is a continuous cut line. That is, it is within the scope of the present disclosure for each of the tear lines to be replaced with a continuous slit, or the like. For example, a cut line can be a continuous slit or could be wider than a slit without departing from the present disclosure.

[0045] 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 fines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a cmshed or depressed portion in the material along the desired fine of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired fine 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 fine, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a manner that might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold fine to be a tear fine.

[0046] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carrier embodiments. The term“glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carrier panels in place.

[0047] The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various exemplary embodiments. Various additions, modifications, changes, etc., could be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only selected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings, and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore, certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may be selectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.