Abstract: An arrangement for locking together two panels (50, 60) the arrangement comprising a first and second male tabs (39a, 39b) and a first and second female tabs (43) wherein the first and second male tabs are hinged to a first panel by a first and second hinged connection (41) respectively, and the first female tabs are hinged to a second panel by a third hinged connection the first and second hinged connections being divergent with respect to one another.

Abstract: A method for removing material between the panels of a foldable blank (100), includes the steps of: separating at least a portion of the blank with a contoured line (25) to define a first panel (15) and a second panel (20), terminating the contoured line at a vertex (V), selecting one of the first and second panels as a trimmed panel (15) from which material is to be removed, defining a first line (R) that includes a pair of first and second points (P1, P2) on an edge of the trimmed panel, and removing a portion (A) of the trimmed panel defined by the first line and a section of the edge lying between the first and second points.

Abstract: A handle structure includes a reinforcing flap struck from a handle panel to define at least a part of a handle opening for insertion of a user's hand. The reinforcing flap comprises a first portion and a second portion connected to one another by a narrow portion defined by an indent in a free edge of the reinforcing flap.

Abstract: An arrangement for locking together two panels (50, 60) the arrangement comprising a first and second male tabs (39a, 39b) and a first and second female tabs (43) wherein the first and second male tabs are hinged to a first panel by a first and second hinged connection (41) respectively, and the first female tabs are hinged to a second panel by a third hinged connection the first and second hinged connections being divergent with respect to one another.

Abstract: A handle structure includes a reinforcing flap struck from a handle panel to define at least a part of a handle opening for insertion of a user's hand. The reinforcing flap comprises a first portion and a second portion connected to one another by a narrow portion defined by an indent in a free edge of the reinforcing flap.

Abstract: A package (10) includes a plurality of articles (B) that are disposed on their sides in a matrix arrangement that includes a plurality of rows (R1, R2, R3) and columns (C1, C2, C3, C4). A lower row (R1) of articles (B) defines a dispensing position (P1) for each column (C1, C2, C3, C4) and upper rows (R2, R3) of articles (B) define descending positions (P2, P3) for each column (C1, C2, C3, C4). A carton (500) encloses the articles (B) and includes a detachable portion (1115, 1315) that can be detached along a severance line (1110, 1310) to expose the articles in the dispensing positions (P1). Inserts (400, 800, 1000) are provided to facilitate dispensing the articles, to control the rate of descent of articles moving from the descending positions (P2, P3) toward the dispensing positions (P1), and/or to provide insulation between the articles as they move toward the dispensing positions (P1).

Abstract: A carton, having reinforced handle openings which define handles, includes a tubular structure that is formed from multiple walls. An edge flap connects two of the walls. The carton also includes end closures at each open end of the tubular structure. The end closures each include end flaps that have features that define the handles. The end closures also include edge flap reinforcing panels that are hingedly connected to the edge flap and further define the handle. Specifically, a reinforcing edge of the edge flap reinforcing panel is disposed in reinforcing proximity to a handle opening so as to reinforce at least a weight bearing edge of the handle opening to define a handle with a multi-ply thick weight bearing edge.

Abstract: A reinforced handle is provided in an end wall closure of a sleeve type carton by forming a handle aperture in a top end flap, and by aligning the handle aperture with corresponding cutouts formed in respective side end flaps, each cutout being reinforced with one or more reinforcing panels that align with at least its weight bearing edge. Each reinforcing panel is hingedly attached to the respective side end flap to be foldable along the hinged connection and secured in a face contacting arrangement, whereby the reinforcing panel overlies the cutout as an overlay panel, or aligns its edge with the weight bearing edge of the cutout. In this manner, the material at the weight bearing edge of the cutout is at least two plies thick. When the carton is fully erected and sealed, the reinforced cutout is in registry with the handle aperture, thereby creating the reinforced handle.

Abstract: A package (10) includes a plurality of articles (B) that are disposed on their sides in a matrix arrangement that includes a plurality of rows (R1, R2, R3) and columns (C1, C2, C3, C4). A lower row (R1) of articles (B) defines a dispensing position (P1) for each column (C1, C2, C3, C4) and upper rows (R2, R3) of articles (B) define descending positions (P2, P3) for each column (C1, C2, C3, C4). A carton (500) encloses the articles (B) and includes a detachable portion (1115, 1315) that can be detached along a severance line (1110, 1310) to expose the articles in the dispensing positions (P1). Inserts (400, 800, 1000) are provided to facilitate dispensing the articles, to control the rate of descent of articles moving from the descending positions (P2, P3) toward the dispensing positions (P1), and/or to provide insulation between the articles as they move toward the dispensing positions (P1).

Abstract: A carrier (800) that is reversibly erectable from a collapsed condition to an erected condition and that reliably maintains its erected condition. The carrier includes a tubular portion defined by side walls (118, 146, 152, 142, 156, 160) and a bottom wall defined by bottom panels (230, 260). The bottom panels are hingedly connected to an edge of the tubular structure. Gusset structures connect the bottom panels to the tubular structure and cause the bottom panels to toggle as the carrier is erected. The gusset structures additionally retain the bottom wall in the erected condition. In the erected condition, the bottom wall of the carrier includes a buffer for limiting or preventing damage to articles as they are loaded into the carrier. The handle of the carrier is ergonomically defined in multiple planes and includes handle flaps including curved portions that improve the comfort of a handle.

Abstract: A carton is provided with side walls and chamfered corners shaped to securely or tightly enclose a group of cylindrical articles, such as beverage bottles. The curvature of the edges of each side wall is selected to cause the end wall or end closure structure to conform to the cylindrical and tapered shape of articles in the endmost row. More specifically, the end edges of each side wall are substantially concave and their curvature is determined such that the minimum width of each side wall is less than or equal to the width of the top wall. To encourage side end flaps, which partially form the end closure structure, to crease so as to define the chamfered corners, a fold line is formed in the side end flaps.

Abstract: A carton for enclosing cylindrical articles includes a dispenser that provides access to at least two endmost articles in an uppermost row, and to at least one article in a lowermost row, when fully loaded. The dispenser is defined by contiguous severance lines that extend across the top wall, side walls, and end wall. The dispenser is opened by tearing the severance lines to define a stopper wall and as a recess in each side wall that, at its lowest point, is spaced at a distance above the bottom wall less than half the height of the carton, with the dimensions and position of the recess being sufficient to expose at least part of the ends of one or more lowermost articles. Each side wall severance line meets the end wall severance line at a distance above the bottom wall no less than half the height of the carton.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a composite panel includes a primary layer (102, 120a) that includes a primary hinge (122a). The primary hinge (122a) is defined by at least one fold line. The composite panel further includes a reinforcing layer (110, 136a) that includes a compression relief hinge (140a). The compression relief hinge (140a) is defined by a pair of distal fold lines (142a, 146a) and a medial fold line (144a) that Is disposed between and spaced apart from the distal fold lines (142a, 146a). The primary hinge (122a) overlies the compression relief hinge (140a) so that when the composite panel is folded about the primary hinge (122a), the composite relief hinge (140a) buckles away from the primary hinge (122a).

Abstract: A method for removing material between the panels of a foldable blank (100), includes the steps of: separating at least a portion of the blank with a contoured line (25) to define a first panel (15) and a second panel (20), terminating the contoured line at a vertex (V), selecting one of the first and second panels as a trimmed panel (15) from which material is to be removed, defining a first line (R) that includes a pair of first and second points (P1, P2) on an edge of the trimmed panel, and removing a portion (A) of the trimmed panel defined by the first line and a section of the edge lying between the first and second points.

Abstract: A carton with an improved dispenser facilitates access to articles enclosed within by providing expansive side recesses that expose at least one article on the lowermost row and the two end most articles in the uppermost row. The dispenser opening is defined by one or more severance lines extending at least partially across the top, end, and side walls, with a portion of the end wall remaining as an article stopper after the at least partially detachable portion of the dispenser is removed.

Abstract: A carton is provided with side walls that are shaped to securely or tightly enclose a group of tapered cylindrical articles. The curvature of the edges of each side wall is selected to cause the end wall or end closure structure to conform to the tapered shape of articles in the end most row that is disposed adjacent to the respective end closure structure of the carton. More specifically, the edges of each side wall are substantially continuously arcuate and the curvature of the edge is determined such that the maximum width of each side wall is greater than the width of the respective bottom edge of the side wall.

Abstract: A carton for dispensing articles such as cups while retaining the remaining cups in the open carton. A plurality of panels are connected together to define a carton. A bottom panel includes a plurality of article-receiving openings therethrough. The openings are configured to receive articles and to retain the articles by their top flanges. Each of the openings is disposed adjacent to a fold line connecting the bottom panel with a side panel. The fold line includes a frangible portion that is positioned in proximity of at least one of the openings. Moving each article within the respective opening permits a flange of that article to initiate breakage of the frangible portion to release that article from the respective opening so that that article may be dispensed from the carton.

Abstract: A carton includes a top panel, a pair of opposed end panels, and an integral strap handle that has a medial grip portion, a pair of wider portions and opposed end portions. The opposed end portions are formed from the end panels while the medial and wider portions are formed from the top panel. The strap handle is movable from a stowed position where the medial and wider portions lie in the plane of the top panel to a use position where the medial portion is arched upwardly from the plane of the top panel. The strap handle defines in the top panel an opening extending across the top panel. A relief notch is formed in the top panel at a location directly adjoining each wider portion along a complementary side edge of the opening.