BEVERAGE AND FOOD CONTAINER WITH GAME FEATURES
A container for transporting a beverage bag inside of a carton includes a game feature on the outside of the carton for a diversion. The carton is formed from a plurality of walls that are folded together in order to create the container that contains product inside of the carton when assembled. On one of the exterior surfaces of the walls a game feature is designed to be used as an entertainment source and a game piece is in a holder of the carton to play the game.
This invention generally relates to containers, more particularly, but not exclusively, to containers for handling beverages and food.
BACKGROUNDBeverages, like wine, beer, and soda, and food products, such as snack food products, are often stored and sold in boxes or containers which facilitate compact storage, easy handling and convenient dispensing of the beverage or food. For example, wine is often contained in a box that contains a sealed bag of the wine. By storing the wine or other beverage in a flexible bag within the box—a so-called bag-in-box container—any amount of the beverage can be tapped from the container without a significant amount of air getting in contact with the beverage. This is advantageous for instance when tapping wine, as a consumer in this way is given the opportunity to enjoy a single glass of wine from the bag-in-box container without the remainder of the wine in the container having to be used within a limited time in insure the wines' taste.
Usually the spigot, tap or dispenser on a bag-in-box container is initially concealed within the box or carton so that the boxes can be packed and stored as compactly as possible and so that the spigot is not damaged during the handling of the boxes. When the beverage is to be dispensed, the consumer breaks the paperboard box open along a perforation line and finds the spigot with their fingers from within the box. The spigot is then on most containers partly pulled out of the box and positioned in the cutout of the box and held somewhat in position by a flap from the box.
Other beverages, such as canned or bottle beverages, can also be stored in a suitable box or container. Furthermore, food products like snack foods, may be stored and dispensed appropriately from boxes. Such containers or boxes are commonly utilized in many different settings to dispense the beverage or food products. Due to its convenient portability and sturdy construction, the containers, such as a bag-in-box beverage container, are often transported to parties, tailgate gatherings associated with sporting events such as football or basketball games and other social occasions. Even though the container is discarded after the beverage or food therein has been consumed, it garners much attention during the social gathering and thereby provides a unique opportunity. Existing containers or cartons of this type include information such as advertising and/or content information, but do little to provide diversionary activities or to enhance social interaction can be enhanced beyond the graphics and content of currently known containers or cartons of this type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention solves these and other shortcomings in the prior art. In one embodiment, this invention is a container having a carton with a number of walls enclosing an interior space. A game feature is formed on an exterior face of one of the carton walls. One or more game pieces are housed in the carton and selectively accessible to a user to play a game using the game feature with the game piece. The game feature in one embodiment is selectively moveable between a stowed position for shipping and handling, and an erected position for use as a game or social interaction. The game feature is generally co-planar with the exterior face and the associated carton wall in the stowed position and extends outwardly from the associated carton wall in the erected position. A brace is pivotally coupled to the game feature and adapted to engage the associated carton wall to retain the game feature in the erected position. The brace is included in the container along with a socket in the carton to receive therein a tab on the brace.
In other embodiments of this invention, the container has multiple game features and a number of game pieces housed in the carton. In one embodiment, the container may include a bag adapted to contain the beverage therein and housed within the carton. Advantageously, the spigot of the container of at least some of the embodiments is operational to dispense the beverage when the game feature is in the erected position. The carton may include a handle for carrying the container and a holder to selectively house the game piece therein.
The objectives and features of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The figures illustrate one particular embodiment for carton 12 that may be utilized to implement the invention. While specifics regarding that embodiment are set forth, the invention is by no means limited to the exact construction of the carton, and various other different types of cartons might be utilized to implement the invention. Furthermore, the illustrated embodiment shows a container used to house a bag containing a beverage. However, it will be understood that the container might also hold canned or bottled beverages or loose or bagged food products, for example. Also, the container of the invention might be used to hold other non-edible or non-drinkable product. As such, the invention is not limited to the bag-in-box use in the illustrated example.
To erect the carton 12 from the blank 10 shown in
When the blank 10 is erected into a carton 12, it defines a generally rectangular carton adapted to hold a suitable product. In the illustrated example, the carton is used to contain liquid for human consumption, including wine, juices, water or other beverages. However, other embodiments might contain other products, such as food products, as noted. In the illustrated carton, the liquid is contained within a polymeric bag 52 sized and configured to fit within the erected carton 12. The bag 52 includes a spigot 54 through which the liquid beverage is dispensed. The bag 52 and carton 12 combine to form a beverage container.
A spigot opening 56 is formed in the front panel 18 by a series of perforated cut lines. A user punctures through the front panel at the spigot opening 56 to reach inside the carton 12 and pull the spigot 54 through the front wall 18 for convenient access and dispensing of the beverage through the spigot 54 as is well known in the industry. A handle 58 is formed in the top panel 26 through which a user may tear a perforated cut line to fold a handle flap 60 downwardly to carry the beverage container in a convenient manner. A pair of rectangular sockets 62, 64 are formed in the front flaps 18a, 18b, respectively, and their function will be described later herein. A game piece opening 66 is also formed by a pair of parallel, perforated tear lines 68, 70 and a circular aperture 72, all of which will be described later herein.
The carton 12 and associated blank 10 according to one embodiment of this invention includes a game feature on one or more walls of the carton 12. As shown in the figures, the game feature is formed on an exterior face surface of at least one of the carton walls. In the illustrated embodiments, the game feature is located on at least one of the double panel walls of the carton. Specifically, the game feature is formed in the outer panel 34, 36 of the double panel wall that overlies the inner panels or flaps 18a, 18b. When the game feature is in the erected position, the inner panels still form a solid wall structure for the carton. Specifically, according to the exemplary embodiment shown in
Referring to
The basketball goal game feature 76 is likewise erected from a stowed position in the associated side wall 34 where the game feature 76 is generally co-planar with the side wall 34 and the respective exterior face surface. The game feature 76 is selectively moveable to the erected position by tearing a generally arcuate rim 94 along a perforated tear line 96 and folding it upwardly from the side wall 34 as shown by the arrow D in
The various game features included in the beverage container carton 12 according to embodiments of this invention can be used with one or more game pieces contained within the holder chamber 50 on the top wall 26. In one embodiment, the holder flaps 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d are folded about the respective holder flap fold lines 40, 42, 44, 46 to form a holder chamber 50 for the game pieces 106. The holder chambers 50, 51 are accessible through the game piece openings 66, 67, which are formed by a series of cooperating perforated tear lines 68, 70, 73, 75, 77. The tear lines 68 are generally parallel to each other and tear lines 70, 73, 75, 77 run transverse to those parallel lines 68 to define separate tear-away sections as seen in
Although not shown, the game features may generally include graphics, such as the yard lines of the football field or the boundaries of a basketball court or backboard to enhance the game feature. Similarly, the graphics may be color coordinated to match team colors, logos or the like.
From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description of at least one preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which this invention is susceptible. Therefore, I desire to be limited only by the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a carton having a plurality of walls enclosing an interior space;
- a game feature formed on an exterior face of at least one of the carton walls; and
- a game piece housed in the carton and selectively accessible to a user to play a game using the game feature with the game piece.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the game feature is selectively moveable between a stowed position and an erected position.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the game feature is generally co-planar with the exterior face of the associated carton wall in the stowed position and extends outwardly from the associated carton wall in the erected position.
4. The container of claim 1 further comprising:
- a plurality of game features each on a different wall of the carton; and
- a plurality of game pieces housed in the carton and associated with the game features.
5. The container of claim 1 further comprising a bag adapted to contain a beverage therein and housed within the interior space of the carton;
- a spigot coupled to the bag and adapted to project through one of the walls of the carton to dispense the beverage.
6. The container of claim 5 wherein the spigot is operational to dispense the beverage when the game feature is in the erected position.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein the game feature is one of a football goal post and a basketball goal rim.
8. The container of claim 1, further comprising:
- a holder in the carton to selectively house the game piece therein.
9. The container of claim 2 further comprising:
- a brace pivotally coupled to the game feature and adapted to engage the associated carton wall to retain the game feature in the erected position.
10. A container comprising:
- a carton having a plurality of walls enclosing an interior space;
- a bag adapted to contain a beverage therein and housed within the interior space of the carton;
- a spigot coupled to the bag and adapted to project through one of the walls of the carton to dispense the beverage;
- a game feature formed on an exterior face of at least one of the carton walls; and
- a game piece housed in the carton and selectively accessible to a user to play a game using the game feature on the exterior face of the at least one carton wall.
11. The container of claim 10 further comprising
- a holder in the carton to selectively house the game piece therein;
- the game feature being generally co-planar with the exterior face of the associated carton wall in a stowed position, the game feature configured to be selectively moveable between the stowed position to an erected position for extending outwardly from the associated carton wall.
12. The container of claim 11 further comprising:
- a brace pivotally coupled to the game feature and adapted to engage the associated carton wall to retain the game feature in the erected position;
- a socket in the carton to receive therein a tab on the brace; and
- the spigot being operational to dispense the beverage when the game feature is in the erected position
13. The container of claim 10 further comprising:
- a plurality of game features each on a different wall of the carton; and
- a plurality of game pieces housed in the carton.
14. The container of claim 10 wherein the game feature is one of a football goal post and a basketball goal rim.
15. A container comprising:
- a carton having a plurality of walls enclosing an interior space;
- at least one of the walls being a multiple panel wall having an inner panel and an outer panel that overlies the inner panel;
- a game feature formed in the outer panel of the multiple panel wall, the game feature being generally co-planar with the outer panel in a stowed position and being selectively moveable to an erected position to extend outwardly from the outer panel;
- a game piece housed in the carton and selectively accessible to a user to play a game using the game feature with the game piece.
16. The container of claim 15 further comprising:
- a plurality of multiple panel walls;
- a plurality of game features, each game feature formed on a different multiple panel wall of the carton; and
- a plurality of game pieces housed in the carton and associated with the plurality of game features.
17. The container of claim 15 further comprising a bag adapted to contain a beverage therein and housed within the interior space of the carton;
- a spigot coupled to the bag and adapted to project through one of the walls of the carton to dispense the beverage
18. The container of claim 15 wherein the game feature is one of a football goal post and a basketball goal rim.
19. The container of claim 15, further comprising:
- a holder in the carton to selectively house the game piece therein.
20. The container of claim 15 further comprising:
- a brace pivotally coupled to the game feature and adapted to engage the associated outer panel to retain the game feature in the erected position.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 30, 2010
Publication Date: Jul 7, 2011
Inventors: Andrew Gordon (Cincinnati, OH), Dennis Heydorn, JR. (Cincinnati, OH), Curtis Sigretto (Owenton, KY), John W. Stevie (Taylor Mill, KY)
Application Number: 12/982,011
International Classification: B65D 5/00 (20060101); B65D 5/60 (20060101); A63H 33/00 (20060101);