CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

100011 This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/122,857, filed October 31 , 2014.

INC ORPATIO BY REFERENCE

[0002] The disclosure of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/122,857, which was filed on

October 31 , 2014, 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 cartons for holding and carrying articles such as beverage containers and/or other articles. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cartons having a handle comprising a material that is different than the material of the carton.

SUMMARY F THE DISCLOSURE

[00041 In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carton for containing at least one article. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels includes a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel. The carton includes a plurality of end flaps for at least partially closing an end of the carton. The carton further includes a handle in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The handle has a handle opening in the at least one panel and a handle strap attached to the carton that extends across the opening. The handle strap can be a different material than the at least one panel.

[0005] In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank for forming a carton. The blank includes a plurality of panels comprising a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel. The blank includes a plurality of end flaps for at least partially closing an end of the carton formed from the blank and handle features in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The handle features include a handle opening in the at least one panel and a handle strap attached to the blank that extends across the opening. The handle strap comprises a different material than the at least one panel. [0006] In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a method of assembling a carton. The method includes obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels. The plurality of panels includes a first side panel, a top panel, a second side panel, and at least one bottom panel. The blank further includes a plurality of end flaps and a handle in at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The handle comprises a handle opening in the at least one panel and a handle strap attached to the blank that extends across the opening. The handle strap comprises a different material than the at least one panel. The method includes forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels. The method further includes inserting a plurality of articles into the interior of the carton and at least partially overlapping the plurality of end flaps to at least partially form a closed end of the carton.

[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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[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 an interior plan view of a blank used to form a carton in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

[0010] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank of Fig. 1 according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.

[0011] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a carton according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

[0012] Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbers throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The present invention generally relates to cartons that contain articles such as containers, bottles, cans, etc. The articles can be used for packaging food and beverage products, for example. The articles 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; aluminum and/or other metals; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HOPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, and Nylon; and the like, or any combination thereof. [0014] Cartons according to the present invention can accommodate articles of any shape. For the purpose of illustration and not for the purpose of limiting the scope of the invention, the following detailed description describes beverage containers as disposed within the carton embodiments. In this specification, the terms "inner," "interior," "outer," "exterior," "lower," "bottom," "upper," and "top" indicate orientations determined in relation to fully erected and upright cartons.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a plan view of the interior side 1 of a blank, generally indicated at 3, used to form a carton 5 (Fig. 2) according to the exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The carton 5 can be used to house a plurality of articles such as containers C (Fig. 2). The carton 5 has a handle, generally indicated at 1 1 , for grasping and carrying the carton. In one illustrated embodiment, the carton 5 is sized to house twelve containers in one layer in a 3x4 arrangement, but it is understood that the carton may be sized and shaped to hold containers of a different or same quantity in a single layer, more than two layers, and/or in different row/column arrangements (e.g., 1 x6, 3x6, 2x6, 4x6, 2x3x4, 2x6x2, 2x9, 3x5, 3x5x2, etc.). In one embodiment, the containers C are cans, but other types of containers (e.g., bottles) can be used in the carton 5. In one embodiment of the disclosure, the carton 5 comprises a first material (e.g., paperboard or other suitable material) and the handle 1 1 comprises a second material (e.g., fabric, woven material, non-woven material, woven metallic fabric that may include ferrous or nonferrous metals, etc., or any other suitable material).

[0016] The blank 3 has a longitudinal axis LI extending generally in the direction of the length of the blank and a lateral axis L2 extending generally in the direction of the width of the blank. The blank 3 includes a top panel 23 foldably connected to a first side panel 25 at a lateral fold line 27. The top panel 23 is foldably connected to a second side panel 29 at a lateral fold line 31. A first bottom panel 33 is foldably connected to the first side panel 25 at a lateral fold line 35. A second bottom panel 37 is foldably connected to the second side panel 29 at a lateral fold line 39. In one embodiment, the first and second bottom panels 33, 37 can at least partially overlap in the erected carton.

[0017] The top panel 23 is foldably connected to a first top end flap 49 and a second top end flap 51 .

The first side panel 25 is foldably connected to a first side end flap 53 and a second side end flap 55. The second side panel 29 is foldably connected to a third side end flap 57 and a fourth side end flap 59. The first bottom panel 33 is foldably connected to a first bottom end flap 61 and a second bottom end flap 63. The second bottom panel 37 is foldably connected to a third bottom end flap 65 and a fourth bottom end flap 67. When the carton 5 is erected, the end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61 , 65 close a first end 68 of the carton, and the end flaps 51 , 55, 59, 63, 67 close a second end 69 of the carton. In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure, different panel and flap arrangements can be used for at least partially closing the ends 68, 69 of the carton 5. [0018] The end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61 , 65 of the first end 68 extend along a first marginal area of the blank 3, and the end flaps 51 , 55, 59, 63, 67 of the second end 69 extend along a second marginal area of the blank 3. The end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61, 65 are foldably connected to respective panels 23, 25, 29, 33, 37 at respective longitudinal fold lines 71 , 73, 75, 77, 79. The end flaps 51 , 55, 59, 63, 67 are foldably connected to respective panels 23, 25, 29, 33, 37 at respective longitudinal fold lines 81 , 83, 85, 87, 89. In one embodiment, the top end flaps 49, 51 each include a base portion 50, 52 and a distal portion 54, 56 foldably connected to the base portion at a respective longitudinal fold line 58, 60. Similarly, the bottom end flaps 61 , 63, 65, 67 have distal portions 70 foldably connected to base portions 72 at longitudinal fold lines 74. The end flaps 49, 51 , 53, 55, 57, 59, 61 , 63, 65, 67 can be alternatively shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or omitted without departing from the disclosure.

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, the features that form the handle 1 1 can include a handle opening 101 in the top panel 23 and a handle strap 103 extending across the handle opening. In one embodiment, the handle strap 103 is attached to the panel 23 at attachment regions 105, 107 located at respective ends of the handle strap. The attachment regions 105, 107 include portions of the handle strap 103 that are in face-to-face contact with the top panel 23 and are attached to the top panel 23 by adhesive such as glue. In the illustrated embodiment the attachment regions 105, 107 of the handle strap 103 are attached to the top panel 23 and do not extend into the end flaps 49, 51 , but the handle strap 103 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and configured such as to being elongated and extending across the fold lines 71 , 81 into at least a portion of the top end flaps 49. 51. Further, the handle strap 103 could be attached to the top panel by other attachment mechanisms (e.g., frictional force or mechanical attachment means including rivets, thread, buttons, staples, and any other suitable mechanical fastening means) without departing from the disclosure.

[0020] In one embodiment, the blank 3 can comprise a substantially rigid material such as paperboard that provides stiffness and a smooth exterior print surface for the carton 5. Alternatively, the blank can comprise other materials such as E-flute corrugated fiberboard, other corrugated materials, or any other suitable material.

[0021] In one embodiment, the handle strap 103 can comprise any suitable flexible material such as woven fabric, nonwoven fabric, woven metallic fabric, plastic, rubber, synthetic rubber, polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or other polymers, rope, flexible bag materials, paper, or any other suitable material.

[0022] In alternative embodiments, the carton 5 could include multiple handle straps 103 extending across the handle opening 101. Further, the handle straps 103 could be any suitable width and length without departing from the disclosure. [0023] As shown in Fig. 3, an alternative carton 5' is configured for containing containers in the form of beverage bottles and includes an alternative handle 1 having a handle strap 103' of an alternative material as the carton 5. Accordingly, similar or identical features of the embodiments are provided with like reference numbers. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the carton 5' may include a texture T in one or more panels (e.g., first side panel, second side panel, top panel or any other panel).

[0024] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the blank 3 can be erected into the carton 5 by first attaching the handle strap 103 to the top panel 23 by applying adhesive to the attachment zones 105, 107 and securing the handle strap to the top panel. The carton 5 can be formed by folding the blank 3 along fold lines 27, 31 , 35, 39 and overlapping the outer edge margin of the second bottom panel 37 and the outer edge margin of the first bottom panel 33. Glue or other adhesive can be used to secure the first and second bottom panels 33, 37. The first end 68 of the carton 5 can be closed by respectively overlapping and adhering the end flaps 49, 53, 57, 61 , 65, and the second end 69 of the carton can be closed by respectively overlapping and adhering the end flaps 51, 55, 59, 63, 67. The base portions 50, 52 of the top end flaps 49, 51 and the base portions 72 of the bottom end flaps 61 , 63, 65, 67 form respective angled or curved corners of the carton 5. Containers C could be loaded into the carton 5 before or after closing either of the first end 68 and the second end 69 of the carton. It should be understood that either the first end 68 or the second end 69 can be assembled first, leaving the other end open so that the contents of the carton 5 may be introduced into the container. The open end can then be closed after the contents are loaded into the carton 5.

[0025] As shown in Figs. 2, the handle 1 1 includes the handle strap 103 that extends across the handle opening 101 in the top panel 23. The carton 5 can be carried by grasping the portion of the handle strap 103 in the handle opening 101 and lifting the carton by the handle strap. The carton 5 could have other features for strengthening the handle without departing from the disclosure. Alternative assembling, loading, and closing steps may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0026] In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the carton 5 is oriented so that the top panel 23 and the bottom panels 33, 37 are adjacent the sides of the containers C that are beverage cans and the side panels 25, 29 are adjacent respective ends of the cylindrical beverage containers. The carton 5 can be otherwise configured so that the top panel 23 with the handle 1 1 is adjacent the top or bottom ends of the containers C. For example, the carton 5' of Fig. 3 includes the top panel 23 being adjacent the tops of containers C that typically would be beverage bottles. The handle 11 can be located in any of the top panel 23, side panels 25, 29, or bottom panels 33, 37 without departing from the present disclosure. [0027] Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can be combined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other features of other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Further, it is noted that the handle features, dispenser features, and/or other features of the various embodiments can be incorporated into a carton having any carton style or panel configuration. The carton styles and panel configurations described above are included by way of example.

[0028] The blanks according to the present disclosure can be, for example, formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. For example, the interior and/or exterior sides of the blanks can be coated with a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product, advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blanks may then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed on the blank. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisture barrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank. In accordance with the above -described embodiments, the blanks may be constructed of paperboard of a caliper such that it is heavier and more rigid than ordinary paper. The blanks can also be constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or any other material having properties suitable for enabling the carton to function at least generally as described herein. The blanks can also be laminated or coated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panel sections.

[0029] In accordance with the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure, a fold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form of weakening that facilitates folding there along. More specifically, but not for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure, fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a blunt scoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed portion in the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extends partially into a material along the desired line 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.

[0030] 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 torn 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.

[0031] The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panels adhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. The term "glue" is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.

[0032] The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describes various embodiments.

As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the 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. Furthermore, the scope of the present disclosure covers various modifications, combinations, alterations, etc., of the above-described embodiments that are within the scope of the claims. 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.