End loading twin beverage carton

[57] ABSTRACT

An end loading, twin carton separable into two cartons, embodying folded handles usable in the twin and also the separated mode. A blank for the carton is also disclosed.

Claims, 9 Drawing Figures

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Patented July 18, 1972

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Patented July 18, 1972

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Patented July 18, 1972

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Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,458 .4 Sheets-Sheet 4

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END LOADING TWIN BEVERAGE CARTON

This invention relates to an improvement in carrying containers and more particularly to an end loading, top opening twin carton which can be separated into two separate cartons, as well as to a blank for forming such carton. 5

There has been considerable interest in recent years in cartons for bottled beverages which are end-loading for filling with bottles and top opening for the removal of the bottles. Examples of such cartons can be found in Canadian Pat. No. 735,744 issued June 7,1966, and Canadian Pat. No. 736,358 ^lcissued June 14,1966.

There has also recently been a great interest in providing cartons for bottled or canned beverages which can be conveniently split into two sections. This means that, for example, it is no longer necessary to stock both six bottle and 12 bottle ¹⁵cartons since if a customer wants only a six bottle carton, a 12 bottle carton can be conveniently split in half. The splittable carton also has advantages for the consumer since he may not wish to carry with him at a particular time a full carton and _2f)under such circumstances he can carry a closed half carton.

If the carton is to be used for cans, the provision of a handle is not too important because of the compactness and light weight of the package. However, when the carton is intended for bottles it is desirable to provide an extendable handle that 25 is adaptable to facilitate carrying both in the initial closed position of the carton and after the carton has been opened for removal and replacement of the bottles in the carton. When a splittable twin carton is being used, it is important that the handles be arranged such that there will be a handle for each 30 section of the carton after separation.

Although cartons of this general type have been produced, they tend to be of a rather complex manufacture and require the use of excessive amounts of material, which add to the cost of packaging. Thus, there has been a need for a carton of sim- 35 pie construction and low manufacturing cost which will meet the above requirements.

The present invention provides an improved end loading, top opening, twin carton which is adapted to be separated into two cartons. Essentially the carton of the invention consists of ⁴⁰a pair of article holding compartments joined to a common panel. Each of these compartments has an inner and outer vertical panel and a top and bottom panel as well as end closure panels. The common panel is foldably connected to the compartment outer vertical panels and overlies the compartment ⁴^ top or bottom panels. This common panel also includes at least one separable line of weakness in the region thereof overlying the two inner vertical panels of the compartment.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the common panel has end flaps foldably connected thereto and each ⁵⁰end flap is provided with a separable line of weakness in alignment with the line dividing the two inner vertical panels. These end flaps hold the two compartments firmly together while they are still joined by the common panel, but each flap 5 $ will readily split along its line of weakness when the carton is being split into two sections.

When the carton of the invention is intended for carrying bottles, it is desirable to position the common panel at the top and to provide a pair of handle members formed in and in- gQ tegral with the common top panel. These handle members are positioned on either side of the separable line of weakness. Handle members are also preferably formed in and integral with the compartment top panels and are positioned such that each compartment top panel handle is in register with a cor- 65 responding handle member in the common top panel. These handle members are cut such that they are releasably held in the panels.

The separable line of weakness in the common panel is preferably in the form of a scored or perforated line and a sin- 70 gle line can be used. According to a particularly preferred feature of the invention, when the common panel is at the top a pair of lines are provided in the form of a tear strip. This tear strip can include a tab at one end which can be easily and quickly grasped and pulled to divide the carton into two parts. 75

When the carton is intended for carrying cans, a single scored or perforated line of weakness can be provided in the common panel and the carton can be split apart by grasping the two compartments remote from the common panel and spreading them apart to break the common panel along the line of weakness. Finger slots can be formed in the panels remote from the common panel for ease of grasping. It is also convenient to provide finger slots in the outer vertical panels to serve as carrying handles.

It has been found to be particularly advantageous to place the common panel at the bottom when the carton is intended for cans. When the carton is used in this position, tear strips can be provided along the top panels remote from the common panel for opening the can holding compartments.

According to another feature of the invention, the carton can be formed from a blank cut from foldable sheet material.

The blank essentially comprises a centrally located common panel having extending laterally from each longitudinal edge thereof in sequence, an outer vertical panel, a first horizontal panel, an inner vertical panel and a second horizontal panel. The panels are integrally foldably inter-connected by fold lines extending along adjacent edges thereof and the common panel includes at least one separable line of weakness extending substantially along the longitudinal axis thereof. Preferably the blank includes integrally foldably inter-connected end panels and these end panels are preferably integrally, foldably connected to the common panel, the outer vertical panels and the bottom panels.

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the inside face of a foldable blank from which a twin carton is formed,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton erected for loading bottles through an open end thereof,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the completely erected and sealed twin carton,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carton after it has been split into two parts,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the complete twin carton with handles in extended position,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the split carton with extended handles,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a twin carton for cans erected for loading cans through an open end thereof,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the completely erected and sealed twin carton for cans, and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the twin carton for cans being split into two parts.

The carton blank shown in FIG. 1, described in terms applicable to the container formed therefrom, includes a series of rectangular panels foldably connected by lines of scoring. Thus, common top panel 10 consists of two halves 11,11 and foldably connected thereto by scored lines 13,13 are two outer vertical panels 12,12. The bottom panels 14,14 are foldably connected to panels 12,12 by score lines 15,15 and inner vertical panels 16,16 are in turn foldably connected to panels 14,14 by scored lines 17,17. Finally, inner top panels 18,18 are foldably connected to panels 16,16 by scored lines 19,19.

A series of end panels are provided with end panels 20, foldably connected to panel 10 by scored lines 23 and end panels 24,24 and 26,26 respectively foldably connected to panels 12,12 and 14,14 by scored lines 25,25 and 27,27.

In FIG. 1 the common top panel 10 is shown divided by a tear-strip 28. This tear-strip is provided with a tab 29 for ease of grasping and pulling of the tear-strip. Scored lines 22 are also provided on the flaps 20 to permit these to divide into two parts 21,21 when the carton is split apart by removal of the tear-strip 28.

In common top panel 10, a pair of handle members 30,30 are defined by substantially severed lines of weakness 31,31 which lines of weakness can be interrupted at spaced apart points to provide tack connections, thus avoiding accidental

3,677,458 dislodgement of the handle member before intended usage thereof. Each handle member 30 may include a hand hold tab 32 defined by line of severance 36.

Similar handle members 33,33 are provided in inner top panels 18,18. Each of these includes substantially severed lines of weakness 34 and hand hold tab 35.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the carton is assembled by folding the panels 12,12; 14,14; 16,16; and 18,18 about their respective fold lines such that the inner top panels 18,18 underlie the two halves 11,11 of common top panel 10 and handles 33,33 are in register with handles 30,30. The panels 18,18 can be joined to common top panel 10 by any suitable means, e.g., an adhesive. The carton blank folded and joined in this manner can then be collapsed into a flat form and stored and shipped for ultimate use in this flat form.

When the carton is to be erected by the user for loading with a plurality of articles such as bottled beverages, the carton walls are folded into a rectangular tubular arrangement as shown in FIG. 2. With the end flaps open as shown, the carton is filled with the articles after which the end closure panels are infolded into secured together relation, e.g., by means of an adhesive, to form carton end walls as shown in FIG. 3. The thus erected, filled and sealed carton is ready for shipment and storage.

If the retailer has a demand only for half a carton, he simply removes the tear-strip 28 by pulling the tab 29 leaving two smaller cartons as shown in FIG. 4.

The ultimate consumer upon receiving a dual carton may readily raise the joined together handle members 33 and 35 as shown in FIG. 5. In the raised position the portion 33 of each handle effectively becomes an extension of inner vertical panel 16, thus providing a very strong support for the handle member and eliminating any dangerof the handle tearing from the weight of the filled carton.

If either the retailer or the ultimate consumer splits the carton by removing the strip, the handle members are not affected and they can still be used for carrying the split cartons as shown in FIG. 6.

Although these handles are shown in use with both halves of 49 the carton in closed condition, the handle members are equally useful after the top panels of the carton have been opened.

A carton for carrying cans is shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. It is made from a blank which is basically similar to that shown in 45 FIG. 1.

As shown particularly in FIG. 7, the common panel 50 is at the bottom and it is foldably connected to outer vertical panels 51,51, which are in turn foldably connected to panels 52,52. The last mentioned panels are foldably connected to panels 53,53, which are foldably connected to panels 54,54. Extending respectively from the ends of panel 50, panels 51,51 and panels 52,52 are foldably connected end flaps 55; 56,56 and 57,57. The panels 54,54 are adhesively joined to panel 50 while flaps 58,58 are adhesively joined to flap 55.

A scored or perforated line of weakness 59 extends along panel 50 and its end flaps 55. In order to split the carton, it is grasped by the finger tabs 60 and spread apart as shown in FIG. 9.

Slots 61 are provided in outer panels 51 into which the fin- 60 gers can be inserted to assist in carrying the carton. Those slots can have tabs which are easily punched in when the carton is to be carried.

For convenience of opening, each panel 52 can be provided with a tear-strip 62 with a tab 63 for easy grasping.