Stackable Fluid Carton
A stackable gable top container and a series of such containers including a top portion, bottom portion and at least one side wall. The top portion including a gable structure having two opposed inclined sides extending away from a peak. The bottom portion including a gable recess for matingly receiving a form substantially matching at least a portion of the gable structure. The at least one side wall extending between the top and bottom portions forming an inner chamber, wherein together the top portion, the bottom portion and the sides walls are capable of retaining a fluid substance within the inner chamber.
The presently disclosed technologies are directed to stackable fluid containers and particularly thermoplastic coated paper containers.
BACKGROUNDCommon household drinks, such as milk, juice and other dairy and juice products are often sold in polyethylene coated paper cartons with four flat sides and a gable-style top. U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,512 to Poole discloses one of such contemporary designs. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,366 to Yamada et al. discloses a similar design. A “gable-style,” as used herein refers to a structure including a triangular top portion with opposed sloped upper surfaces inclined downwardly from a peak ridge. The traditional “gable style” fluid carton has been augmented over the years with the addition of a pouring spout or flip-top lid, as demonstrated in Yamada et al. as well as U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,562 to Gordon or U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,438 to Gordon et al.
Often consumers buy the largest size available of these drink cartons in an effort to reduce costs as well as the number of trips back to the store. However, a half gallon of liquid can weigh too much for small children or people with problems lifting objects approaching the weight of a half gallon. While consumers can try to avoid the weight of such large container by buying multiple smaller containers, multiple smaller containers tend to take up more storage space than a single larger liquid-equivalent container that holds about the same volume of liquid. Also, the peak ridge on gable-style containers makes them un-stackable in a single column, which might otherwise alleviate some of the requirement for needing more storage space. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a fluid container design that overcomes these shortcomings of the prior art.
SUMMARYIn accordance with an aspect of the disclosed technologies there is disclosed herein a stackable gable top container including a top portion, bottom portion and at least one side wall. The top portion including a gable structure having two opposed inclined sides extending away from a peak. The bottom portion including a gable recess for matingly receiving a form substantially matching at least a portion of the gable structure. The at least one side wall extending between the top and bottom portions forming an inner chamber, wherein together the top portion, the bottom portion and the sides walls are capable of retaining a fluid substance within the inner chamber.
Additionally, at least one of the two opposed inclined sides can include a closeable pouring spout, wherein the pouring spout when opened provides fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the container. Also the gable recess can include a pouring spout recess, wherein a form substantially matching an exterior form of the pouring spout can be matingly received within the pouring spout recess. The closeable pouring spout can include a removable cap. The peak can include a peak ridge that rises vertically from the two opposed inclined sides. A longitudinal extent of the peak ridge can extend from a first side of the top portion to an opposed second side of the top portion, wherein the longitudinal extent is smaller than an outer width of the bottom portion. Additionally, the gable recess can include two opposed inclined surfaces extending from opposed sides of the bottom portion. The two opposed inclined surfaces can be joined by a peak ridge recess, wherein a form substantially matching an exterior form of the peak ridge can be matingly received within the peak ridge recess. The peak ridge recess can include two opposed planar surfaces that are substantially parallel. Further, at least a portion of the gable recess can be formed by an insert, the insert formed separately from and fixedly secured to the side walls or a part of the bottom portion. Further still, at least a portion of each of the top portion, the at least one side wall and the bottom portion can be formed together from a continuous unitary material.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed technologies there is disclosed herein a series of stackable containers including a first container and a second container. The first container including a top portion having a first gable structure. The first gable structure having a peak ridge and two opposed inclined sides extending away from the peak ridge, wherein the peak ridge rises from the two opposed inclined sides vertically. The second container including a bottom portion having a first gable recess for matingly receiving the first gable structure, wherein each of the first and second containers includes an inner chamber capable of retaining a fluid substance therein.
Additionally, at least one of the two opposed inclined sides can include a closable pouring spout, wherein the pouring spout when opened provides fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the first container. The first gable recess can include a pouring spout recess, wherein the pouring spout can be matingly received within the pouring spout recess. The pouring spout can include a removable cap. The peak ridge can extend longitudinally from a first side of the first container top portion to an opposed second side of the first container top portion, wherein the peak ridge longitudinal extent is smaller than an outer width of the second container bottom portion. The first container can include a bottom portion substantially identical to the second container bottom portion. The second container can include a top portion substantially identical to the first container top portion. Also, each of the first and second containers can include external indicia representing a product retained therein, wherein the external indicia on the first container represents a different product from the product represented by the external indicia on the second container. At least one of the first and second containers can be substantially formed from a continuous unitary material. The second container can be mounted atop the first container, whereby the gable structure is matingly secured within the gable recess. Further the series of stackable containers can include a third container, wherein a bottom portion of the third container is substantially identical to the second container bottom portion. The second container can include a top portion substantially identical to the first container top portion, whereby the third container can be mounted atop and matingly received by the second container.
These and other aspects, objectives, features, and advantages of the disclosed technologies will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Describing now in further detail these exemplary embodiments with reference to the Figures. In accordance with aspects of the technologies disclosed herein are various aspects of stackable gable-top containers. It should be understood that these containers can be made with varying dimensions and proportions as desired. Thus, only a portion of exemplary containers in accordance with the disclosed technologies are illustrated and discussed herein.
As used herein, terms such as “top”, “bottom”, “vertical”, “horizontal” or related terms refer to the orientations as shown in the accompanying figures. It should be understood that such containers can be tipped, rotated, flipped or otherwise moved into different orientations. Thus, these terms are for reference only and are not intended to limit the disclosure.
The disclosed technologies are particularly suited to an adaptation of contemporary paper fluid cartons, particularly gable-style cartons as cited above. While cartons generally refer to light cardboard or pasteboard containers, this disclosure is not limited to such materials. In this way, the fluid containers disclosed herein can be made from other known materials to achieve the advantages disclosed herein. Thus, the individual containers 10 can be formed as thermoplastic coated paper cartons, similar to the contemporary cartons described above. However, the containers 10 could alternatively be formed from polymers or more complex composite materials. The container 10 as disclosed herein is intended for retaining fluid substances. As used herein, the expression “fluid substances” means a liquid, gas or mixed substance that is not rigid and generally has no fixed shape or yields easily to external pressure. While a fluid substance can include solids therein, they generally retain the property of being able to flow, change shape and/or move readily when unrestrained.
The container 10 as shown in
Additionally, shown in
Generally, the top gable structure 20 also forms a pair of opposed cavities 28. The cavities 28 are a product of the way contemporary designs are made of folded paper, but such cavities 28 do often assist users in handling the container 10 and are thus desirable. However, the cavities 28 could be eliminated to compensate for the fluid capacity lost in forming the bottom mating cavity of each container.
The containers 10 should separate easily from one another. In this way, the containers 10 can be stacked and unstacked with little effort by the end user. An additional sleeve (not shown) could also be provided to hold the set of containers 50 together, at least until the consumer is ready to remove the sleeve and use the products for daily consumption. Such a sleeve could be made of various materials, such as paper, plastic or other suitable material. Also the sleeve could be made substantially solid or in the form of a mesh or net-type structure. The sleeve could alternatively carry informative or promotional material.
As shown in
It should be understood that by forming a gable recess 35, and inner chamber of the container 10 will hold less volume as compared to a contemporary container with a flat bottom. Accordingly, efforts can be made to minimize the size of bottom mating cavity 35, by making the top gable structure 20 smaller. However, the bottom mating cavity 35 preferably has a mating form, such that the top gable structure 20 can be well seated in the gable recess 35 as shown in
One consideration when including a pouring spout 26, is that it be positioned such that it does not protrude too far toward a side wall of the container 10. As noted on the lower container 10 shown in
Another aspect of the disclosed technologies, as shown in
Alternatively, containers for various products each having the common mating structure described herein, would allow an end user to stack the containers 10, taking up less space in the refrigerator, cooler or other means of storage or transport. Also, such common mating structures can assist in stacking numerous containers 10 for shipping or commercial transportation.
As a further alternative, containers 10 could be formed with different heights while maintaining a common mating structure. For example, a single container could be formed that extends as long as the two top containers 10, shown in
The set of containers 50 in
As with typical gable-style fluid containers, the major portions of the container 10 can be formed from a continuous unitary material, usually in the form of a web, such as a cardboard sheet.
The upper sections X can follow contemporary gable-style container design. Alternatively, the upper sections can be adapted to more closely match the dimensions of the lower gable recess into which it is intended to be matingly inserted. As the lower gable recess is somewhat narrower than the outer width of the container 10, the upper sections X can be modified to fit in the gable recess.
As shown in
While the entire container 10 can be formed from a single continuous unitary sheet, alternatively, the container 10 can be formed by adding and joining separate elements. The separate elements could include more than one blank or other pieces. For example, as noted above a closeable pouring spout 26 can be added as taught by the prior art. Additionally, reinforcement material can be added, particularly to the bottom portion to prevent a fluid from leaking out of the container. Such reinforcement can take the form of tape or other thin web material that is bonded to the container walls were needed. Alternatively, an added element can take the form of an insert that forms a portion of the container.
In should be understood that while two exemplary embodiments of insert 40 are shown above in
It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Claims
1. A stackable gable top container comprising:
- a top portion including a gable structure having two opposed inclined sides extending away from a peak;
- a bottom portion including a gable recess for matingly receiving a form substantially matching at least a portion of the gable structure; and
- at least one side wall extending between the top and bottom portions forming an inner chamber, wherein together the top portion, the bottom portion and the sides walls are capable of retaining a fluid substance within the inner chamber.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the two opposed inclined sides includes a closeable pouring spout, wherein the pouring spout when opened provides fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the container.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein the gable recess includes a pouring spout recess, wherein a form substantially matching an exterior form of the pouring spout can be matingly received within the pouring spout recess.
4. The container of claim 2, wherein the closeable pouring spout includes a removable cap.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein the peak includes a peak ridge that rises vertically from the two opposed inclined sides, wherein a longitudinal extent of the peak ridge extends from a first side of the top portion to an opposed second side of the top portion, wherein the longitudinal extent is smaller than an outer width of the bottom portion.
6. The container of claim 1, wherein the gable recess includes two opposed inclined surfaces extending from opposed sides of the bottom portion, wherein the two opposed inclined surfaces are joined by a peak ridge recess, wherein a form substantially matching an exterior form of the peak ridge can be matingly received within the peak ridge recess.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein the peak ridge recess includes two opposed planar surfaces that are substantially parallel.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the gable recess is formed by an insert, the insert formed separately from and fixedly secured to the side walls or a part of the bottom portion.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each of the top portion, the at least one side wall and the bottom portion are formed together from a continuous unitary material.
10. A series of stackable containers comprising:
- a first container including a top portion having a first gable structure, the first gable structure having a peak ridge and two opposed inclined sides extending away from the peak ridge, wherein the peak ridge rises from the two opposed inclined sides vertically;
- a second container including a bottom portion having a first gable recess for matingly receiving the first gable structure, wherein each of the first and second containers includes an inner chamber capable of retaining a fluid substance therein.
11. The series of stackable containers of claim 10, wherein at least one of the two opposed inclined sides includes a closable pouring spout, wherein the pouring spout when opened provides fluid communication between an inside and an outside of the first container.
12. The series of stackable containers of claim 11, wherein the first gable recess includes a pouring spout recess, wherein the pouring spout can be matingly received within the pouring spout recess.
13. The series of stackable containers of claim 11, wherein the pouring spout includes a removable cap.
14. The series of stackable containers of claim 10, wherein the peak ridge extends longitudinally from a first side of the first container top portion to an opposed second side of the first container top portion, wherein the peak ridge longitudinal extent is smaller than an outer width of the second container bottom portion.
15. The series of stackable containers of claim 10, wherein the first container includes a bottom portion substantially identical to the second container bottom portion.
16. The series of stackable containers of claim 10, wherein the second container includes a top portion substantially identical to the first container top portion.
17. The series of stackable containers of claim 10, wherein each of the first and second containers includes external indicia representing a product retained therein, wherein the external indicia on the first container represents a different product from the product represented by the external indicia on the second container.
18. The series of stackable containers of claim 17, at least one of the first and second containers is substantially formed from a continuous unitary material.
19. The series of stackable containers of claim 10, wherein the second container is mounted atop the first container, whereby the gable structure is matingly secured within the gable recess.
20. The series of stackable containers of claim 10, further comprising:
- a third container including a bottom portion substantially identical to the second container bottom portion, wherein the second container includes a top portion substantially identical to the first container top portion, whereby the third container is mounted atop and matingly received by the second container.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 2, 2010
Publication Date: Oct 7, 2010
Inventors: Rocia Michelle Gayoso (Woodbury, NY), Tony A. Gayoso (Woodbury, NY)
Application Number: 12/753,656
International Classification: B65D 5/06 (20060101); B65D 5/74 (20060101); B65D 21/02 (20060101);