초록

A package is formed from a carton and containers extending through a bottom panel of the carton. First and second struts and a brace in the carton interior provide support for the containers accommodated within the carton.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A package, comprising: a carton, comprising: at least one top panel; a first receiving panel extending across a bottom of the carton; a second receiving panel extending across the bottom of the carton; a first side panel; a second side panel; a brace extending between the fir

What is claimed is: 1. A package, comprising: a carton, comprising: at least one top panel; a first receiving panel extending across a bottom of the carton; a second receiving panel extending across the bottom of the carton; a first side panel; a second side panel; a brace extending between the first and second receiving panels, the brace comprising a first side brace panel foldably connected to the first receiving panel, a second side brace panel foldably connected to the second receiving panel, and a center brace panel foldably connected to the first side brace panel and the second side brace panel and extending across the top of the brace; a first row of first container apertures in the first receiving panel, at least one first strut being located at each first container aperture; and a second row of second container apertures in the second receiving panel and spaced from the first row of container apertures, at least one second strut being located at each second container aperture; and a plurality of containers, each container being accommodated in one of the container apertures and having a flange at the top of the container that comprises an upper end face at the top of the flange, a lower end face at the bottom of the flange, and an intermediate flange surface, extending between the upper end face and the lower and end face, the intermediate flange surface having an inner portion adjacent the brace and an outer portion adjacent one of the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the brace extends between the first row of container apertures and the second row of container apertures and is adjacent to and abuts a respective flange of the plurality of containers, the center brace panel abuts and extends between the respective inner portions of the intermediate flange surfaces and is located at an elevation below the elevation of the upper end face of the flanges, and the first side panel and the second side panel abut the respective outer portions of the intermediate flange surfaces of the flanges, the center brace panel cooperating with a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel to restrict each respective container from translational movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the first side panel and the second side panel. 2. The package of claim 1, wherein the first side brace panel is foldably connected to the first receiving panel at a first fold line and the second side brace panel is foldably connected to the second receiving panel at a second fold line. 3. The package of claim 2, wherein the brace has a triangular cross-sectional shape and the first and second side brace panels abut at a lower portion of the brace and extend generally upwardly from the lower portion of the brace to the center brace panel. 4. The package of claim 2, wherein the at least one first strut located at each first container aperture extends generally upwardly and contacts an underside of the flange of the container accommodated in an associated container aperture. 5. The package of claim 2, wherein each at least one first strut comprises a first inner strut and a first outer strut spaced from the first inner strut, each inner strut and each outer strut contacting an underside of one of the container flanges. 6. The package of claim 5, wherein the brace is adjacent to the inner struts. 7. The package of claim 1, wherein the carton has a substantially tubular shape with open ends. 8. A package, comprising: a carton, comprising: at least one top panel; a first receiving panel extending across a bottom of the carton; a second receiving panel extending across the bottom of the carton; a first side panel; a second side panel; a brace comprising a first side brace panel foldably connected to the first receiving panel, a second side brace panel foldably connected to the second receiving panel, and a center brace panel foldably connected to the first side brace panel and the second side brace panel and extending across the top of the brace; a first row of first container apertures in the first receiving panel; and a second row of second container apertures in the second receiving panel; and a plurality of containers, each container being accommodated in one of the container apertures so that the containers are arranged in the first and second rows, each container having a flange at the top of the container that comprises an upper end face at the top of the flange, a lower end face at the bottom of the flange, and an intermediate flange surface extending between the upper end face and the lower end face, the intermediate flange surface having an inner portion adjacent the brace and an outer portion adjacent one of the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the brace extends generally upwardly from the first and second receiving panels between the first row of containers and the second row of containers, the center brace panel abuts and extends between the respective inner portions of the intermediate flange surfaces and is located at an elevation below the elevation of the upper end face of the flanges, and the first side panel and the second side panel abut the respective outer portions of the intermediate flange surfaces of the flanges, the center brace panel cooperating with a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel to restrict each respective container from translational movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the first side panel and the second side panel. 9. The package of claim 8, wherein the first side brace panel is foldably connected to the first receiving panel at a first fold line and the second side brace panel is foldably connected to the second receiving panel at a second fold line. 10. The package of claim 9, wherein the brace has a triangular cross-sectional shape and the first and second side brace panels abut at a lower portion of the brace and extend generally upwardly from the lower portion of the brace to the center brace panel. 11. The package of claim 8, wherein the carton has a substantially tubular shape with open ends. 12. A carton blank for forming a package for holding a plurality of containers, each having a flange, the blank comprising: at least one top panel; a first side panel; a first receiving panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first receiving panel including a plurality of first receiving patterns; a second side panel; a second receiving panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the second receiving panel including a plurality of second receiving patterns; and a plurality of foldably connected brace panels disposed between the first and second receiving panels, the brace panels being positioned for contact with a respective flange of the plurality of containers, the brace panels comprising a first side brace panel foldably connected to the first receiving panel, a second side brace panel foldably connected to the second receiving panel, and a center brace panel foldably connected to the first side brace panel and the second side brace panel; when the blank is formed into the package, the center brace panel being for abutting a respective inner portion of an intermediate flange surface of each of the flanges, the intermediate flange surface of each flange extending between an upper end face at the top of the flange and a lower end face at the bottom of the flange, and the first side panel and the second side panel being for abutting a respective outer portion of each of the intermediate flange surfaces of the flanges, the center brace panel cooperating with a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel to restrict each respective container from translational movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the first side panel and the second side panel, in the package formed from the blank, the center brace panel is located at an elevation below an elevation of the upper end face of the flanges. 13. The carton blank of claim 12, wherein the first side brace panel is foldably connected to the first receiving panel at a first fold line and the second side brace panel is foldably connected to the second receiving panel at a second fold line. 14. The carton blank of claim 13, wherein the brace panels are generally rectangular and connected to one another at transverse fold lines. 15. The carton blank of claim 13, wherein each receiving pattern defines a strut pair. 16. The carton blank of claim 15, wherein each strut pair comprises an inner strut and an outer strut. 17. A method of constructing a package, comprising: providing a carton blank comprising: at least one top panel; a first side panel; a first receiving panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first receiving panel including a plurality of first receiving patterns; a second side panel; a second receiving panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the second receiving panel including a plurality of second receiving patterns; and a plurality of foldably connected brace panels disposed between the first and second receiving panels, wherein the plurality of brace panels comprises a first side brace panel foldably connected to the first receiving panel, a second side brace panel foldably connected to the second receiving panel, and a center brace panel foldably connected to the first side brace panel and the second side brace panel; advancing a container through each receiving pattern, each container having a flange comprising an upper end face at the top of the flange, a lower end face at the bottom of the flange, and an intermediate flange surface extending between the upper end face and the lower end face, the intermediate flange surface having an inner portion adjacent the brace and an outer portion adjacent one of the first side panel and the second side panel; moving the first and second receiving panels toward one another, thereby causing the first and second side brace panels to pivot upwardly and the center brace panel to abut the respective inner portion of the intermediate flange surface of each flange and extend between adjacent flanges; positioning the first side panel and the second side panel to abut respective outer portions of the intermediate flange surfaces of the flanges, the center brace panel cooperating with a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel to restrict each respective container from translational movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the first side panel and the second side panel; and closing a top of the package with the at least one top panel, in the closed package the center brace Danel is located at an elevation below an elevation of the upper end face of the flanges. 18. A method of constructing a package, comprising: providing a carton blank comprising: at least one top panel; a first side panel; a first receiving panel foldably connected to the first side panel, the first receiving panel including a plurality of first receiving patterns; a second side panel; a second receiving panel foldably connected to the second side panel, the second receiving panel including a plurality of second receiving patterns; and a plurality of foldably connected brace panels disposed between the first and second receiving panels, wherein the plurality of brace panels comprises a first side brace panel foldably connected to the first receiving panel, a second side brace panel foldably connected to the second receiving panel, and a center brace panel foldably connected to the first side brace panel and the second side brace panel; advancing a container through each receiving pattern, wherein the containers are arranged in a first row and a second row, each container having a flange at the top of the container that comprises an upper end face at the top of the flange, a lower end face at the bottom of the flange, and an intermediate flange surface extending between the upper end face and the lower end face, the intermediate flange surface having an inner portion adjacent the brace and an outer portion adjacent one of the first side panel and the second side panel; folding the first and second side brace panels with respect to one another so that the first and second side brace panels move out of plane with the first and second receiving panels and the center brace panel abuts and extends between the respective inner portions of the intermediate flange surfaces of respective flanges; positioning the first side panel and the second side panel to abut respective outer portion of the intermediate flange surfaces of the flanges, the center brace panel cooperating with a respective one of the first side panel and the second side panel to restrict each respective container from translational movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the first side panel and the second side panel, and closing a top of the package with the at least one top panel, in the closed package, the center brace panel is located at an elevation below an elevation of the upper end face of the flange. 19. The package of claim 1, wherein the brace exerts a first biasing force against the inner portion of the intermediate flange surface of a respective flange and one of the first side panel and the second side panel exerts a second biasing force against the outer portion of the intermediate flange surface of a respective flange, the first biasing force and second biasing force being in opposite directions so as to restrain the containers in the carton. 20. The package of claim 1 wherein the flange is a lid of the container and the upper end face comprises a top axial end surface of the lid and the lower end face comprises a bottom axial end surface of the lid. 21. The package of claim 1, wherein the first side panel is continuous and free of openings. 22. The package of claim 1, wherein the center brace panel is connected to the first side brace panel at a first brace fold line that abuts the respective inner portion of the radial surface of at least one of the flanges.