Carton with deflectable carry top

Abstract

A top panel (110), a pair of side panels (112, 114) attached to the top panel (110) and base panels (120, 122) form a tubular open-ended carton (700). End flaps (128, 130) extend from the top panel (110) at the open ends of the carton (700) and are provided with finger receiving areas (108) for grasping by a user. The end flaps (128, 130) are attached to the top panel (110) and are deflectable from an extended position to an interior position when grasped by a user. Relief slits (144), fold lines, and score lines may be provided at predetermined locations to allow the end panels (128, 130) to deflect inward and the top panel (110) to deflect upward when the carton (700) is grasped by a user, thereby providing a convenient means to carry the carton (700) which also provides means for a tightening the carton (700) about the articles (810).

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 60 / 673,214, filed Apr. 20, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to cartons, and more particularly, to an open-end wrap around style carton having a deflectable carry top. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Wrap around article cartons are well known in the art. An example of such a carton is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,424,368 in which a carton is illustrated having top, bottom, and side panels or walls which are foldably joined together to form a tubular structure with open ends. While such cartons are desirable because they provide the ability to display articles contained therein through the open ends, they typically provide little lateral support at the open ends due to the lack of large supporting walls which, if present, would obscure the contents of the carton. To assist in carrying such open...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the end flap deflects inward when grasped by a user such that a portion of the end flap contacts the top or upper portion of articles carried within the carton, thereby pushing the articles together and tightening them within the carton. Curved score lines may be provided to assist in deformation of the carton during lifting by the user including the upward curvature of the top panel and the inner curvature of the end flaps. Finger pressure by a user at the finger receiving areas deflect the end flaps and top panel, and snugs the articles held within the carton, thereby tightening the carton around the top or upper portion of each of the articles to better secure the articles. The deflectable top panel and end flaps with finger receiving portions eliminate the need for finger holes and handles, thereby allowing the top panel to be generally uninterrupted.

[0009] The end flap is defined at least in part by first and second fold lines. Each of the first and second fold lines extend from a corner of the end flap and are disposed at a first distance from the outermost edge of the end flap. The end flap is further defined by at least two arcuate relief slits that extend from one end from the first and second fold lines, respectively, as well as by a third fold line extending between the relief slits. The third fold line is disposed at a second distance from the outermost edge of the end flap wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. Upper and lower medial panels are disposed between the third fold line and the outermost edge of the end flap and form a finger receiving area for receiving a finger of a user. The finger receiving area is disposed between the relief slits. Thus, the first and second fold lines may, in essence, be a continuous fold line interrupted by the arcuate relief slits and one or both of the medial panels. The third fold line may be parallel to the first and second fold lines, but is disposed further away from the outermost edge of the end flap. This offsetting of the first and second fold lines from the third fold line, in combination with the upwardly arching arcuate relief slits causes the top panel to bow upward when the carton is erected and / or lifted. Thereby, the end flaps are encouraged to deflect toward the interior of the carton. Each end flap may also include score lines provided on its surface to further facilitate the end flap deflecting inward when the carton is grasped by a user at the finger receiving area.

Problems solved by technology

While such cartons are desirable because they provide the ability to display articles contained therein through the open ends, they typically provide little lateral support at the open ends due to the lack of large supporting walls which, if present, would obscure the contents of the carton.

For example, besides being aesthetically unappealing, the finger holes and handles weaken the top panel of the carton and interfere with graphics that may be placed on the top panel of the carton.

Lifting cartons by top finger holes or handles also results in a large force concentrated in a few small areas on the carton's top panel, such as the finger holes or the handle's attachment points to the top panel, thereby leaving the top panel subject to ripping or tearing at these stress points.

Furthermore, such finger holes and handles provide little or no lateral support to the contents of the carton, especially at the open ends, when the carton is lifted by a user.

Also, finger holes and handles often have sharp edges which are uncomfortable when grasped by a user.

Additionally, the handles typically require a user to use a closed grip, which may prove difficult for some persons such as those with arthritis.

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