Flexible Carton Liner
Disclosed herein is a flexible liner for a paneled fiberboard carton. The flexible liner is adhesively attached to the inner sides of the carton's panels creating demonstrably stronger carton walls and having the same top-load compression strength as standard, conventionally constructed liners. The flexible liners disclosed herein are unique in their die-cut construction resulting in liner panels, and optionally flaps, that are separated from adjacent liner panels by a plurality of slots and flexibly attached to adjacent panels by a plurality of bridges.
This application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Patent Application No. 62/351,898, filed Jun. 17, 2016.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe flexible carton liner disclosed herein provides an improvement for the consumer packaging industry. Carton liners are commonly used to increase the structural strength of cartons. They are constructed to approximate the size and shape of the carton's panels, and perhaps its flaps, and adhered to the inner side of the carton, typically resulting in a snug fit between the liner and the carton. The snug fit between the carton and the liner generally results in a lack of flexibility in the lined carton.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTU.S. Pat. No. 3,980,005, which issued to Buonaiuto on Sep. 14, 1976, describes a shipping carton liner which consists of a unitary sheet of synthetic plastic foam composed of a plurality of panels separated by grooves or score lines of sufficient depth and of a configuration to enable the panels to be swung from coplanar to mutually perpendicular orientation. A resilient layer is then applied to the foam, at least along the score line portions thereof that is characterized by a tear strength and flexibility greater than the foam. The layer of resilient material and the score lines form a hinge for the pivotal movement of the panels.
Notwithstanding the acknowledged flexibility of the liner panels devised and disclosed by Buonaiuto, there remains a need for a liner with flexible panels and/or flaps that can be fabricated from a variety of materials, especially and most importantly from the same material as the carton and without the addition of a “resilient material.”
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed herein is a flexible reinforcement liner for a paneled fiberboard carton said liner comprising a plurality of planar panels sized to conform with, and adhesively attach to, the inner surface of said carton panels and wherein the flexible liner is characterized by having panels separated from adjacent liner panels by a plurality of slots and flexibly attached to adjacent liner panels by a plurality of bridges.
A preferred embodiment of the flexible liner features a liner wherein all the panels of the liner are separated from adjacent panels by a plurality of slots and flexibly jointed or attached to adjacent panels by a plurality of bridges. Another variation of the flexible liner features a liner having a plurality of flaps attached to the liner panels wherein the panels and flaps are separated from adjacent panels by a plurality of slots and attached to the adjacent panels by a plurality of bridges.
Preferably, the bridges of the flexible liner are created by die-cutting slots and discarding the “slot.” The die-cut slots form bridges that are obliquely angled between adjacent liner panels and arrayed so that the bridges positioned above a medially drawn transverse line are mirror images of obliquely angled bridges positioned below the medially drawn transverse line. The carton and liner are typically made of fiberboard, but other materials may prove suitable and even preferable, depending on the nature and purpose of the carton and its contents.
And,
The flexible liner disclosed herein is unique in the manner and means with which panels of the liner are attached to an adjacent panel or flap of the liner and wherein the manner and means impart the flexibility and other properties that make the disclosed liner advantageous to the industry.
Referring to the drawing,
Also depicted in
More specifically, the bridges n are created by the cutting slots m and are obliquely angled across the juncture of the bridged panels. Most preferably, the die-cut slots form bridges that are obliquely angled between adjacent liner panels and arrayed so that the bridges positioned above a medially drawn transverse line X-Y are mirror images of obliquely angled bridges positioned below the medially drawn transverse line.
Referring next to
The carton 40 corresponding to liner 30 also consists of four panels: width right side 41, width left side 43, length rear side 42 and length front side 44. Carton 40 also includes major 47 and minor 46 flaps and glue flap 45. Furthermore, the panels and flaps of carton 40 are separated by creases depicted by broken lines to permit folding and assemblage of the carton.
Slots are cut between the panels and/or flaps of the liner to form bridges that are obliquely angled relative to the fold creases on the cartons. And while the angle of obliqueness is preferably the same for any specific or particular liner design, the direction of the angularity is preferably alternated. Experience has demonstrated that it is preferable for approximately half the bridges to be arrayed and angled in one direction, while the other half are arrayed and angled in the opposite direction, as depicted in
The carton 60 associated with flexible liner 50 consists of width right panel 61, length rear panel 62, width left panel 63, length front panel 64, minor flaps 66, major flaps 67 and glue flap 65.
Figure depicts the assemblage of flexible liner 50 and carton 60. The slots and bridges separating and connecting panels 54 and 51, and isolated for enlargement in
While the foregoing is a detailed and complete description of the preferred embodiments of the disclosed flexible carton liner, it should be apparent that numerous variations and modifications can be made and employed to implement the overall purpose of the disclosed liner without deviating or departing from the spirit of the invention, which is fairly defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A flexible liner for a paneled fiberboard carton, having inner and outer surfaces, said liner comprising:
- a plurality of planar panels sized to conform with designated panels of said carton and adhesively attachable to said inner surface of said carton panels and wherein at least one pair of adjacent liner panels is separated by a plurality of slots between said panels, and flexibly joined by a plurality of bridges.
2. The flexible liner according to claim 1 wherein each panel of said flexible liner is separated from an adjacent panel by a plurality of slots and flexibly joined to an adjacent panel by a plurality of bridges.
3. The flexible liner according to claim 1 further including a plurality of flaps attached to said panels.
4. The flexible liner according to claim 3 wherein said flaps are separated from said panels by a plurality of slots and flexibly attached to said panels by a plurality of bridges.
5. The flexible liner according to claim 1 wherein said bridges are obliquely angled between said liner panels.
6. The flexible liner according to claim 5 wherein said slots and bridges are arrayed so that the bridges positioned above a medially drawn transverse line are mirror images of obliquely angled bridges positioned below said medially drawn transverse line.
7. The flexible liner according to claim 1 wherein said slots are die-cut.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 16, 2017
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2017
Inventor: Jesus A. Padilla (Baldwinsville, NY)
Application Number: 15/625,107