IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0411656
(2009-03-26)
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등록번호 |
US-8256617
(2012-09-04)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Gomes, Jean-Manuel
- Ho Fung, Charles F.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
40 |
초록
▼
A carrier is for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier comprises a bottom panel comprising a plurality of bottom openings, and a first side panel and a second side panel. A first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top panel is foldably connected to the seco
A carrier is for holding a plurality of containers. The carrier comprises a bottom panel comprising a plurality of bottom openings, and a first side panel and a second side panel. A first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel and a second top panel is foldably connected to the second top panel. The first top panel and the second top panel form a top wall of the carrier. The first top panel comprises a first handle portion, the second top panel comprises a second handle portion. A handle is foldably connected to at least one of the side panels. The handle comprises the first handle portion and the second handle portion, is separable from the top wall, and pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position. A blank for forming a carrier and a method for forming a carrier are also generally disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising: a bottom panel comprising a plurality of bottom openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;at least two side panels extending upward from the bottom panel, the at least tw
1. A carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the carrier comprising: a bottom panel comprising a plurality of bottom openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;at least two side panels extending upward from the bottom panel, the at least two side panels comprising a first side panel and a second side panel;at least two top panels comprising a first top panel and a second top panel, the first top panel and the second top panel cooperating to form a top wall of the carrier, the first top panel comprises a first handle portion, the second top panel comprises a second handle portion, and the top wall comprises at least one top opening being aligned with at least one bottom opening of the plurality of bottom openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;a handle for carrying the carrier, the handle being foldably connected to at least one of the side panels, the handle comprising the first handle portion and the second handle portion, the handle being separable from the top wall along at least one tear line and pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position, the at least one tear line extending from the at least one top opening in the top wall to a distal edge of the top wall. 2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the top wall is in face-to-face contact with and adhesively attached to a side panel of the at least two side panels, and at least one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion is in face-to-face contact with the side panel of the at least two side panels, the handle being pivotable away from the side panel of the at least two side panels after tearing along the at least one tear line. 3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first side panel comprises a plurality of first side openings and the second side panel comprises a plurality of second side openings, the first side openings and second side openings being aligned with the bottom openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers. 4. The carrier of claim 3 wherein the at least one top opening of the top wall comprises a plurality of top openings, the plurality of top openings being aligned with one of the plurality of first side openings and the plurality of second side openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers. 5. The carrier of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of first reinforcement flaps foldably connected to the first side panel and a plurality of second reinforcement flaps foldably connected to the second side panel, the first reinforcement flaps having an edge that is adjacent a respective one of the first side openings and the second reinforcement flaps having and edge that is adjacent a respective one of the second side openings. 6. The carrier of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of retention flaps foldably connected to the bottom panel, each retention flap being adjacent a respective one of the bottom openings. 7. The carrier of claim 6 wherein the reinforcement flaps are in face-to-face contact with a respective one of the retention flaps and one of the first and second side panels, the retention flaps, the reinforcement flaps, and the side panels cooperating to form a plurality of retaining edges of the carrier, each retaining edge of the plurality of retaining edges engages a shoulder of a container to retain the container in the carrier. 8. The carrier of claim 7 wherein at least one of the retaining edges of the carrier comprises four layers of material, the four layers comprising a retention flap, a reinforcement flap, a portion of one of the first and second side panels, and a portion of one of the first and second top panels. 9. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first and second handle portions are adjacent a respective handle opening in the first and second top panel. 10. The carrier of claim 9 wherein the first and second handle portions are secured together by an adhesive flap foldably connected to one of the first and second handle portions. 11. The carrier of claim 9 wherein each of the first and second handle portions comprises a comfort flap foldably connected to the handle portion and adjacent a respective handle opening. 12. The carrier of claim 9 wherein the comfort flap of the first and second handle portions engages a shoulder of one of the containers of the plurality of containers to retain the handle in the lowered position. 13. The carrier of claim 1 comprising reinforced retaining areas for contacting and retaining a respective container of the plurality of containers, each reinforced retaining area contacting a shoulder of the respective container, and at least one of the reinforced retaining areas comprising five layers of material. 14. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the carrier has a generally triangular cross-sectional shape. 15. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the at least two side panels further comprises a third side panel and a fourth side panel, the second and third side panels cooperate to form a two-ply side wall of the carrier. 16. The carrier of claim 15 wherein the first side panel, fourth side panel, first top panel, and second top panel cooperate to form a four-ply side wall of the carrier. 17. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are respectively foldably connected to the bottom panel, the first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel, and the second top panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. 18. The carrier of claim 15 wherein the first side panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel by a first fold line, the second side panel is foldably connected to the first side panel by a second fold line, the third side panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel by a third fold line, the first top panel is foldably connected to the third side panel by a fourth fold line, the second top panel is foldably connected to the first top panel by a fifth fold line, the fifth fold line forming the distal edge of the top wall, and the fourth side panel is foldably connected to the second top panel by a sixth fold line. 19. The carrier of claim 18 comprising reinforced retaining areas for contacting and retaining a respective container of the plurality of containers, the reinforced retaining areas comprising four layers of material, the reinforce retaining areas comprising at least a portion of the first side panel, at least a portion of the fourth side panel, at least a portion of the first top panel, and at least a portion of the second top panel. 20. A blank for forming a carrier for holding a plurality of containers, the blank comprising: a bottom panel comprising a plurality of bottom openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers;at least two side panels comprising a first side panel and a second side panel;at least two top panels comprising a first top panel and a second top panel, the first top panel comprises a first handle portion, the second top panel comprises a second handle portion, and each of the first top panel and the second top panel comprises at least one top opening being aligned with at least one bottom opening of the plurality of bottom openings for at least partially receiving a respective container of the plurality of containers when the carrier is formed from the blank;handle features for forming a handle of the carrier formed from the blank, the handle features comprising the first handle portion and the second handle portion, the first and second handle portions being respectively foldably connected to one of the first side panel and the second side panel, at least one of the first handle portion and the second handle portion being separable from the respective first top panel and second top panel along at least one tear line, the at least one tear line extending from the at least one top opening in at least one of the first top panel and the second top panel to a respective edge of the at least one of the first top panel and the second top panel. 21. The blank of claim 20 wherein the first side panel comprises a plurality of first side openings and the second side panel comprises a plurality of second side openings. 22. The blank of claim 21 wherein the at least one top opening of the first top panel and the second top panel comprises a plurality of top openings, each top opening of the plurality of top openings being respectively aligned with one of the plurality of first side openings, one of the plurality of second side openings, and one of the bottom openings when the blank is formed into the carrier. 23. The blank of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of first reinforcement flaps foldably connected to the first side panel and a plurality of second reinforcement flaps foldably connected to the second side panel, the first reinforcement flaps being adjacent a respective one of the first side openings and the second reinforcement flaps being adjacent a respective one of the second side openings. 24. The blank of claim 23 further comprising a plurality of retention flaps foldably connected to the bottom panel, each retention flap being adjacent a respective one of the bottom openings, each retention flap, each first reinforcement flap, and each second reinforcement flap being for engaging a respective container of the plurality of containers at a respective shoulder when the carrier is formed from the blank. 25. The blank of claim 23 wherein the first and second handle portions are adjacent a respective handle opening in the first and second top panel and are separable from a respective one of the first and second top panels at a tear line. 26. The blank of claim 25 further comprising an adhesive flap foldably connected to at least one of the first and second handle portions. 27. The blank of claim 26 wherein each of the first and second handle portions comprises a comfort flap foldably connected to the handle portion and adjacent a respective handle opening. 28. The blank of claim 20 wherein the first side panel and the second side panel are respectively foldably connected to the bottom panel, the first top panel is foldably connected to the first side panel, and the second top panel is foldably connected to the second side panel. 29. The blank of claim 20 wherein the at least two side panels further comprises a third side panel and a fourth side panel, wherein the first side panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel by a first fold line, the second side panel is foldably connected to the first side panel by a second fold line, the third side panel is foldably connected to the bottom panel by a third fold line, the first top panel is foldably connected to the third side panel by a fourth fold line, the second top panel is foldably connected to the first top panel by a fifth fold line, the fifth fold line forming the respective edge of the at least one of the first top panel and the second top panel, and the fourth side panel is foldably connected to the second top panel by a sixth fold line. 30. A method of forming a carrier for containing a plurality of containers, the method comprising: obtaining a blank having a bottom panel comprising a plurality of bottom openings, at least two side panels comprising a first side panel and a second side panel, at least two top panels comprising a first top panel and a second top panel, the first top panel comprising a first handle portion, the second top panel comprising a second handle portion, the blank comprising handle features comprising the first handle portion and the second handle portion;respectively upwardly folding the at least two side panels to position the side panels to extend upwardly from the bottom panel;forming a top wall by placing the first top panel and the second top panel in generally face-to-face relationship, the forming the top wall comprises forming a handle by placing the first handle portion and the second handle portion in generally face-to-face relationship, the to wall comprises at least one to opening being aligned with at least one bottom opening of the plurality of bottom openings;downwardly folding the top wall, the downwardly folding the top wall comprises placing the handle in a lowered position adjacent to one of the side panels; andseparating the handle from the top wall along at least one tear line and pivoting the handle between a lowered position and a raised position, the at least one tear line extending from the at least one top opening in the top wall to a distal edge of the top wall. 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising adhesively attaching the top wall to the one of the side panels. 32. The method of claim 30 further comprising at least partially inserting a respective container of the plurality of containers into a respective bottom opening. 33. The method of claim 32 wherein the blank further comprises a plurality of first side openings in the first side panel, a plurality of second side openings in the second side panel, the upwardly folding the two side panels comprises respectively aligning the first side openings and the second side openings with the bottom openings, the method further comprises further inserting a respective container of the plurality of containers into one of the plurality of first side openings and one of the plurality of second side openings. 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least one top opening comprises a plurality of top openings in the top wall, the downwardly folding the top wall comprises respectively aligning the top openings with the first side openings, second side openings, and bottom openings, the method further comprises inserting a respective container of the plurality of containers into one of the plurality of top openings. 35. The method of claim 34 wherein the blank comprises a plurality of first reinforcement flaps foldably connected to the first side panel and adjacent a respective one of the first side openings, a plurality of second reinforcement flaps foldably connected to the second side panel and adjacent a respective one of the second side openings, and a plurality of retention flaps foldably connected to the bottom panel and adjacent a respective one of the bottom openings, the method further comprising respectively folding the first and second reinforcement flaps, the retention flaps, and at least one of the side panels to form a plurality a reinforced retaining areas that engage a respective container inserted into the carrier, the reinforced retaining areas comprising four layers of material, the four layers of material comprising a retention flap, a reinforcement flap, a portion of one of the first and second side panels, and a portion of one of the first and second top panel. 36. The method of 30 wherein the at least one tear line comprises at least two tear lines, and the first handle portion and the second handle portion are respectively connected to the first top panel and the second top panel at respective tear lines of the at least two tear lines, the separating the handle from the top wall comprising tearing along the at least two tear lines. 37. The method of claim 30 wherein each of the first and second handle portions comprises a comfort flap adjacent a handle opening that engages one of the containers of the plurality of container to retain the handle in the lowered position. 38. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the at least one tear line comprises two first curved tear lines and two second curved tear lines, the first handle portion being separable from a remainder of the first top panel along the two first curved tear lines, and the second handle portion being separable from a remainder of the second top panel along the two second curved tear lines. 39. The carrier of claim 1 further comprising at least one first retention flap, at least one second retention flap, at least one first reinforcement flap, and at least one second reinforcement flap, wherein: the at least one first retention flap is foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the bottom panel adjacent at least one bottom opening of the plurality of bottom openings, and the at least one second retention flap is foldably connected to at least one of the second side panel and the bottom panel adjacent the at least one bottom opening of the plurality of bottom openings;the at least one first reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line, and the at least one second reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, the first side panel and the at least one first reinforcement flap contacting a shoulder of a respective container of the plurality of containers at the first fold line on a first side of the respective container, and the second side panel and the at least one second reinforcement flap contacting the shoulder of the respective container at the second fold line on a second side of the respective container; andthe at least one first retention flap comprises a first retention edge, and the at least one second retention flap comprises a second retention edge, the at least one first retention flap contacting the shoulder of the respective container at the first retention edge on the first side of the respective container, and the at least one second retention flap contacting the shoulder of the respective container at the second retention edge on the second side of the respective container. 40. The blank of claim 20 wherein the at least one tear line comprises two first curved tear lines and two second curved tear lines, the first handle portion being separable from a remainder of the first top panel along the two first curved tear lines, and the second handle portion being separable from a remainder of the second top panel along the two second curved tear lines. 41. The blank of claim 20 further comprising at least one first retention flap, at least one second retention flap, at least one first reinforcement flap, and at least one second reinforcement flap, wherein: the at least one first retention flap is foldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and the bottom panel adjacent at least one bottom opening of the plurality of bottom openings, and the at least one second retention flap is foldably connected to at least one of the second side panel and the bottom panel adjacent the at least one bottom opening of the plurality of bottom openings;the at least one first reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the first side panel at a first fold line, and the at least one second reinforcement flap is foldably connected to the second side panel at a second fold line, the first side panel and the at least one first reinforcement flap being for contacting a shoulder of a respective container of the plurality of containers at the first fold line on a first side of the respective container, and the second side panel and the at least one second reinforcement flap being for contacting the shoulder of the respective container at the second fold line on a second side of the respective container when the carrier is formed from the blank; andthe at least one first retention flap comprises a first retention edge, and the at least one second retention flap comprises a second retention edge, the at least one first retention flap being for contacting the shoulder of the respective container at the first retention edge on the first side of the respective container when the carrier is formed from the blank, and the at least one second retention flap being for contacting the shoulder of the respective container at the second retention edge on the second side of the respective container when the carrier is formed from the blank.
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