Patents Assigned to Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9643749
    Abstract: A carton for containing at least one article is described herein. The carton includes a plurality of side panels that extend at least partially around an interior of the carton, a handle for grasping and carrying the carton formed in at least two side panels of the plurality of side panels, and a protective feature for providing access to grasp the handle. The protective feature includes at least one protective panel arranged in the interior of the carton relative to the handle and the at least two side panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Wagner
  • Patent number: 9637299
    Abstract: A microwave heating construct may include a widened base. The construct may be erected by folding end panels of the construct towards one another and optionally securing the panels in the folded position. The construct may be formed from a blank. The construct and/or blank may include a removable portion at least partially defined by a line of disruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 9636882
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels comprising at least a top panel and a side panel. A plurality of end flaps can be respectively foldably connected to respective panels of the plurality of panels, can be at least partially overlapped to at least partially form a closed end of the carton, and can comprise at least a side end flap foldably connected to the side panel along a first fold line. A handle can be formed in the closed end of the carton for grasping and carrying the carton. The handle can extend in at least the side end flap. A reinforcing flap can be foldably connected to the side end flap along a second fold line, and the reinforcing flap can at least partially overlap the side end flap for reinforcing the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: John Murdick Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9630736
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton includes at least one top panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a bottom panel. A plurality of end flaps is foldably connected to a respective panel to close an end of the carton. The carton includes reinforcement features at the end of the carton to increase the strength of the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven M. Oliveira
  • Patent number: 9623522
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for applying tags with attached elastic anchor bands onto the tops of objects such as bottles in a high speed packaging application. The apparatus includes an infeed assembly for feeding a web, a conveyor assembly that receives a web and conveys it along a path in an upstream direction, a rotating selector wheel, a placement assembly, a pair of rotating jaw assembles, a vacuum cup of the selector wheel, and stretched elastic bands over the tops of respective bottles being conveyed along a path below the placing assembly. The elastic bands then snap onto the tops of their respective bottles to secure the tags to the bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly Ziegler
  • Patent number: 9598202
    Abstract: A carton for containing a flowable material. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises at least a top panel. At least two end flaps are respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels. The at least two end flaps comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the to panel. An integrated handle comprises a handle panel extending in the top panel and into the top end flap and a handle closure at least partially in face-to-face contact with at least the top panel. The handle panel overlaps at least a portion of the handle closure, and the handle closure at least partially forms a barrier in the top panel adjacent the handle panel for at least partially preventing flowable material from exiting the carton at the integrated handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Oliveira, Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 9598214
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a first top panel, a second top panel, and a side panel. The first top panel at least partially overlaps the second top panel. A crown retention panel can be foldably connected to the second top panel, and an attachment flap can be foldably connected to the crown retention panel. At least a portion of the crown retention panel can be spaced apart from the side panel in the interior of the carton, and at least a portion of the attachment flap can be at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: John Murdick Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9573744
    Abstract: A carton for containing at least one article. The carton comprises at least one panel that can form an interior of the carton. The carton comprises at least one protection feature for protecting the articles from breakage. The article protection feature can comprise at least one feature in end flaps of the carton. The article protection feature can comprise an article protection flap foldably connected to the at least one panel. The article protection flap can be moveable between a first position and a second position wherein the article protection flap is folded relative to the at least one panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Schmal, O'Neal Alexander, Mark Baldino, Michael Cerio, John Murdick Holley, Jr., Frank N. Moncrief, Raymond S. Kastanek, Colin Ford
  • Patent number: 9573710
    Abstract: An overhead packaging machine with articulating lugs is mountable along a product packaging system for the application of cartons such as wrap-style cartons about sets or groups of products. The overhead packaging machine includes a lug conveyor having a series of articulating lug assemblies mounted thereto and which are moved along a path of travel for engaging the groups of products with their cartons applied thereto. Each of the articulating lug assemblies includes a pair of articulating lugs mounted to a carriage, which articulating lugs are moveable into engaging positions for engaging the cartons applied to the groups of products as the groups of products are moved along their path of travel for folding and locking of the cartons thereabout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Hendricks
  • Patent number: 9567120
    Abstract: A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels can comprise at least a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel. At least one end flap can comprise at least a bottom end flap foldably attached to the bottom panel at an end of the carton. The end can have an opening adjacent the bottom end flap. The plurality of articles can be for being disposed in the interior of the carton so that a void is formed in the interior between at least one article of the plurality of articles and at least a portion of the bottom end flap at the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond R. Spivey, Sr., Frank N. Moncrief, Aaron Lee Bates, O'Neal Alexander
  • Patent number: 9567149
    Abstract: A microwave heating construct includes a base with a plurality of movable portions, where the movable portions are operative for pivoting into a substantially upright condition, and the base and plurality of movable portions includes microwave energy interactive material that is operative for converting microwave energy into heat, so that pivoting the movable portions moves the microwave energy interactive material of the movable portions into an upright condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Lorin R. Cole
  • Patent number: 9555568
    Abstract: A tool and method for forming a container from a construct. The tool comprising a cavity for receiving a construct, a core operatively associated with the cavity and being operable to move into the cavity, an injection cavity for receiving injection-molding material and directing injection-molding material around at least a portion of the perimeter of the construct, and a clamping feature. The clamping feature is operatively connected to at least one of the cavity and the core and is for clamping a peripheral portion of the construct as the core moves into the cavity to form the construct into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Mark Sinclair, Brian R. O'Hagan, Patrick H. Wnek, Terrence P. Lafferty, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort, Patrick J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9546015
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a first side panel, a bottom panel, a second side panel, a first top panel, and a second top panel. The bottom panel comprises a first portion and a second portion. The carton comprises a first proximal side end flap, a first distal side end flap, a second proximal side end flap, a second distal side end flap, a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the first portion of the bottom panel, and second bottom end flap foldably connected to the second portion of the bottom panel. The first distal side end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second distal side end flap, the first bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the first proximal side end flap, and the second bottom end flap is in face-to-face contact with the second proximal side end flap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrea Coltri-Johnson, Jean-Manuel Gomes, Edward W. Jones
  • Patent number: 9540159
    Abstract: A carton for holding a plurality of containers. The carton can comprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a top panel and a side panel. An insert can comprise a central panel, an inner side panel foldably connected to the central panel, and a crown retention panel foldably connected to the central panel. The top panel can at least partially overlap the central panel, at least a portion of the crown retention panel can be spaced apart from the side panel in the interior of the carton, and the inner side panel can be at least partially in face-to-face contact with the side panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Harmen Boersma, John Murdick Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9522499
    Abstract: A bag may be formed from a tube of high strength packaging material by forming a heat seal in the end of the tube. As part of forming the heat seal, one or more supplying apparatuses, which may be air outlets, are positioned for being in opposing face-to-face relation with, and for causing heat transfer with, at least one outer portion of the tube while a transportation system transports the tube to a nipping apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Files, Scott Beckstrom
  • Patent number: 9517600
    Abstract: A structure is injection molded onto a group of panels to form a container. The container has a tray and an injection-molded feature. The tray has a plurality of side panels that extend at least partially around, and at least partially define, a cavity of the container. The tray has a plurality of multi-part flanges with at least one of the multi-part flanges including a lower flange portion and an upper flange portion. The injection-molded feature has band that is injected molded onto the lower flange portion and the upper flange portion. An injection-molded strip extends along and at least partially defines the corner of the container. The strip extends downward from the inner portion of the band in the elongate corner of the container. A tool is also disclosed for forming the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian R. O'Hagan, Philip E. Netzer, Bruce Barnard, Peter W. Blaas, Kevin J. Hjort
  • Patent number: 9511894
    Abstract: A carton having an opening feature. The carton may include a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels may include a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. The carton may further include a dispenser having a dispenser panel that is at least partially defined by a tear line having a perforation pattern. The perforation pattern may have at least one cut having a central portion, a first distal portion extending from the central portion, and a second distal portion extending from the central portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Weston R. Wilson, Alan Fontaine, Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: D777027
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. Baker, Karen L. Mills, Felicia A. Pinkstone, Daniel Ahern
  • Patent number: D781143
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: John Murdick Holley, Jr.
  • Patent number: D786091
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater