Carton with article protection feature
AssigneeGraphic Packing International, Inc.
InventorsKelly R. Fitzwater, Steven M. Oliveira, Raymond R. Spivey, Sr., Ana Gonzalez
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Abstract
A carton for containing at least one article. The carton includes a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around the interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. At least one article retention panel is for retaining the at least one article. The article retention panel is foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article retention panel is positioned relative to the at least one panel to contact the at least one article.
Claims51
A carton for containing at least one article, the carton comprising:
- a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around the interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps being configured to close an end of the carton, the plurality of end flaps comprises a top end flap;
- and
- wherein the top panel comprises a main portion and at least one article retention panel for retaining the at least one article, the main portion is directly foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel along a lateral fold line, the article retention panel is foldably connected to the main portion of the top panel along a first fold line and to the top end flap along a second fold line, the article retention panel is positioned relative to the main portion of the top panel to contact the at least one article.
A blank for forming a carton for containing at least one article, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps being configured to close an end of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank, the plurality of end flaps comprises a top end flap;
- and
- wherein the top panel comprises a main portion and at least one article retention panel for retaining the at least one article when the carton is formed from the blank, the main portion is directly foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel along a lateral fold line, the article retention panel is foldably connected to the main portion of the top panel along a first fold line and to the top end flap along a second fold line, the article retention panel is for being positioned relative to the main portion of the top panel to contact the at least one article in the carton formed from the blank.
A method of forming a carton, the method comprising:
- obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps comprises a top end flap, and wherein the top panel comprises a main portion and at least one article retention panel foldably connected to the main portion of the top panel along a first fold line and to the top end flap along a second fold line, the main portion being directly foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel along a lateral fold line,
- positioning the plurality of panels to form an interior of the carton,
- loading at least one article in the interior;
- positioning the at least one article retention panel relative to the main portion of the top panel to contact at least one article in the carton after the loading of the at least one article, the positioning comprises moving the article retention panel from a first position that is substantially parallel to the main portion to a second position wherein the article retention panel is folded relative to the main portion.
The method of 30, wherein the at least one article retention panel has a first portion foldably connected to the main portion of the top panel at the first fold line, a second portion foldably connected to the top end flap at the second fold line, and the first portion is foldably connected to the second portion at a third fold line.
The method of 34, wherein the at least one article retention panel comprises a first article retention panel and a second article retention panel, the first and second article retention panel have edges at least partially formed by cuts at respective ends of the first and second article retention panels, and the cuts extend at least partially into the top panel and the top end flap.
The method of 34, further comprising inwardly folding the first portion from a first position that is substantially parallel to the top panel to a second position substantially perpendicular to the top panel;
- and inwardly folding the second portion from a first position that is substantially parallel to the top end flap to a second position substantially perpendicular to the top end flap.
A carton for containing at least one article, the carton comprising:
- a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around the interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps being configured to close an end of the carton, the plurality of end flaps comprises a top end flap;
- and
- wherein the top panel comprises a main portion and at least one article retention panel for retaining the at least one article, the article retention panel is foldably connected to the main portion of the top panel and to the top end flap, the article retention panel is positioned relative to the main portion of the top panel to contact the at least one article, wherein the at least one article retention panel is foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel by at least one gusset panel, and the main portion of the top panel is foldably connected to the at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel along a lateral fold line;
- wherein the at least one gusset panel is at least partially in face-to-face contact with the at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel.
A blank for forming a carton for containing at least one article, the blank comprising:
- a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton when the carton is formed from the blank, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel;
- a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps being configured to close an end of the carton when carton is formed from the blank, the plurality of end flaps comprises a top end flap;
- and
- wherein the top panel comprises a main portion and at least one article retention panel for retaining the at least one article when the carton is formed from the blank, the article retention panel is foldably connected to the main portion of the top panel and to the top end flap, the article retention panel is for being positioned relative to the main portion of the top panel to contact the at least one article in the carton formed from the blank, wherein the at least one article retention panel is foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel by at least one gusset panel, and the main portion of the top panel is directly foldably connected to the at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel along a lateral fold line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.