Special receptacle or package – For plural beverage-type receptacles – Strap-type handle
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-25
2004-07-06
Fidei, David T. (Department: 3728)
Special receptacle or package
For plural beverage-type receptacles
Strap-type handle
C206S141000, C229S117130, C229S117260
Reexamination Certificate
active
06758337
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a carton which is particularly but not only suitable for accommodating beverage containers such as cans and which incorporates a “strap-type” carrying handle which is automatically set up into a position of use as the carton is being closed after having been loaded.
Beverage cartons which include carrying handles and indeed, strap type carrying handles are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,166,570 (Lazerand et al) discloses a packaging carton for beverage cans which has a strap type handle. The handle strap has a central user portion exposed to view in a handle access aperture in top wall of the carton, extends across the top wall and has opposite ends which terminate in respective ones of a pair of end closure flaps which are hinged to the top wall. The handle strap is reinforced by a separate strip of reinforcing material, for example, a fibrous tape.
WO 97/07031 (Riverwood International Corporation) discloses a packaging carton for beverage cans having a handle strap secured at each end thereof to an outer face of an end closure panel of the carton between a pair of cuts which extend across the hinge between the top panel and the respective end closure panel. As the carton is lifted via the handle, the provision of a fold line extending between the pairs of cuts on the top panel allows the portions bounded by the cut lines to deflect inwardly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has sought to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.
One aspect of the invention provides a carton for beverage containers which carton includes a series of hinged panels forming a sleeve and end closure panels hinged to at least one associated hinged panel for closing, at least in part, the opposite ends of a sleeve, wherein the said carton includes handle means by which the carton can be carried, said handle means comprising a strap connected to opposed end closure panels having a user part which is in substantially co-planar relationship with said one hinged panel when in a stored condition, the strap being so connected at its opposite ends to said end closure panels as to provide a surplus of material to enable said user part to be brought into a position of use wherein ends of the strap remote from the user portion are attached to inwardly displaced parts of the end closure panels spaced from said one hinged panel and in that intermediate parts between the user portion and said ends which are unattached to said one hinged panel are free to provide said surplus of material.
An advantage of the first aspect of the invention is that the structural integrity of the outer panels of the carton for example the top and end closure panels is maintained whilst providing additional stability from the handle structure.
According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention a portion of said inwardly displaced parts is positioned to be located between upper portions of adjacent articles at that end of the carton to provide a stabilizing spacer therebetween.
A second aspect of the invention provides a carton for beverage containers which carton includes a series of hinged panels forming a sleeve and end closure panels hinged to at least one associated hinged panel for closing, at least in part, the opposite ends of a sleeve, wherein the said carton includes handle means by which the carton can be carried, said handle means comprising a strap connected to opposed end closure panels having a user part which is in substantially co-planar relationship with said one hinged panel when in a stored condition, the strap being so connected at its opposite ends to said end closure panels as to provide a surplus of material wherein ends of the strap remote from the user portion are attached to inwardly displaced parts of the end closure panels and intermediate parts between the user portion and said ends which are unattached to said one hinged panel are free to provide said surplus of material to enable said user part to be brought into a position of use, said inwardly displaced parts each comprising a step, the tread and riser of the step being provided by an end closure panel
According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the step is positioned to be located between upper portions of adjacent articles at that end of the carton to provide a stabilizing spacer therebetween.
According to another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the ends of the strap may be attached to inwardly displaced parts of gusset and/or side panels.
Preferably, the tread may abut a side portion of the article and wherein the riser of said step may extend inwardly of and beyond the abutment point between the tread and article side portion thereby to retain the step in a set up condition.
According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the strap may abut a side portion of the article, the strap being so constructed and arranged to improve the stability of the handle means.
According to a further optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the user part of the handle strap may be connected to a portion of a side wall of the carton.
According to a yet further optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the user part may be formed from material which is integral with the side wall.
According to a still further optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, the step may be automatically put into its operative position when the gusset panel is folded into its end retaining position.
According to a yet further optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the step may include a fold line intermediate the fold lines by which it is hinged to the side panel and to the gusset panel, the step folding in a toggle action along the fold lines when the gusset panel is folded into its end retaining position.
A third aspect of the invention provides a carton for beverage containers which carton includes a series of hinged panels forming a sleeve and end closure panels hinged to at least one associated hinged panel for closing, at least in part, the opposite ends of a sleeve, wherein the said carton includes handle means by which the carton can be carried, said handle means comprising a strap connected to opposed end closure panels having a user part which is in substantially co-planar relationship with said one hinged panel when in a stored condition, the strap being so connected at its opposite ends to said end closure panels as to provide a surplus of material to enable said user part to be brought into a position of use.
According to an optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the ends of the strap remote from the user portion may be attached to inwardly displaced parts of the end closure panels and intermediate parts between the user portion and the ends which are unattached to said one hinged panel and free to provide said surplus of material. Preferably, the inwardly displaced parts may each comprise a step, the tread of which is provided by an end closure panel and the riser of which is provided by the one hinged panel and wherein the step is positioned to be located between upper portions of adjacent articles at that end of the carton to provide a stabilizing spacer therebetween.
According to an optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the user portion of the handle strap may be connected to a portion of a top wall of the carton. Preferably, the central user portion may be formed from material which is integral with said top wall.
More preferably, the stabilizing step may be automatically put into its operative position when the end closure panel retention means is folded into its end retaining position.
According to another optional feature of the third aspect of the invention, the stabilizing step may include a fold line intermediate the fold lines by which it is hinged to the top panel and to the end closure panel, the stabilizing flap folding in a toggle action along the fold lines when the end closure panel is f
Blin Patrick
Boukredine Eric
Chargueraud Vincent
Fidei David T.
MeadWestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Suzuki Tsugihiko
LandOfFree
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