CARTON BOX IN THE FORM OF V DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention generally refers to cardboard boxes. More specifically, the invention relates to cartons having a substantially V-shaped configuration. Cardboard boxes are useful for manufacturers to pack objects or items that consumers will buy and transport for personal use packed inside the boxes of cardboard. Cardboard boxes are particularly useful to manufacturers to pack multiple quantities of items. The cardboard boxes for packing and transporting multiple quantities of articles containing individual portions of consumer products, such as beverages, are even more useful for both manufacturers and consumers. Such cardboard boxes are usually referred to as multipacks. A cardboard box for packing objects or articles for distribution and sale to consumers typically has a six-sided rectilinear configuration, wherein at least four of the walls are rectangular and the remaining two walls are either rectangular or square. Such six-sided rectilinear cardboard boxes are commonly used because they are easy to manufacture and load. However, often manufacturers and distributors,
and sometimes consumers want a cardboard box that does not have a traditional appearance. Manufacturers may want a cardboard box that does not have a traditional appearance to distinguish their product for marketing purposes or to otherwise draw consumers' attention to the package, and therefore, about their product. A problem for manufacturers and distributors when trying to use cardboard boxes that do not have a traditional appearance is that non-traditional cardboard boxes can be difficult to manufacture and / or assemble. Another problem when trying to use cardboard boxes that do not have a traditional appearance is that cardboard boxes that are not of a standard six-sided rectilinear configuration may not work in such a reliable way in a fully loaded condition such as a box Standard appearance cardboard. Thus, it can be appreciated that it may be useful to have a non-traditional looking cardboard box that is relatively easy to manufacture and load, and that provides a reliable package when fully loaded. Therefore, there is a need hitherto untreated in the industry to address the deficiencies and shortcomings mentioned above. The various embodiments of the present invention overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a pair of sidewall panels
substantially V-shaped, vertical, opposite, joined by a band section. Each side wall panel has a perimeter and a substantially horizontal outer vertex region of the perimeter. The web section extends between and joins the pair of substantially V-shaped lateral wall panels, vertical, opposite, and extends at least substantially around the perimeter so as to form a substantially V-shaped, vertical box which has a substantially horizontal base region. Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present invention will be or will become apparent to someone skilled in the art from the detailed analysis of the following drawings and detailed description. All additional systems, methods, features and advantages are included within the scope of the present teaching and are protected by the appended claims. The foregoing has broadly described some of the aspects and features of the present invention, which should be construed as merely illustrating various potential applications of the invention. Other useful results can be obtained by applying the information described in a different way or by combining various aspects of the modalities described. Therefore, other aspects can be obtained and a
more complete understanding of the invention when referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken together with the accompanying drawings, in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the V-shaped cardboard box with a strap handle, loaded with cans, in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a template for forming the V-shaped cardboard box, such as the cardboard box of FIGURE 1, according to the present invention. FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the carton with belt handle of FIGURE 1 from a different panoramic point, which visualizes the upper part of the carton, in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the exemplary template of FIGURE 2 with a schematic representation of the location of the lower ends and upper ends of the cans that can be packaged in an appropriate manner in a reinforced cardboard box from the template, according to the present invention. FIGURE 5 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a strap handle suitable for use with the
cardboard boxes of FIGURES 1 and 3, according to the present invention. FIGURE 6 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a side wall template of a three-part template suitable for forming a cardboard box having a configuration similar to that of the cardboard box of FIGURE 1, in accordance with the present invention. FIGURE 7 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a band section template of a three-part template suitable for joining with two of the templates of FIGURE 6 to form a cardboard box having a configuration similar to that of FIG. that of the cardboard box of FIGURE 1, according to the present invention. FIGURE 8 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of adjacent panels forming a portion of a cardboard box, in accordance with the present invention. As necessary, detailed embodiments of the present invention are described herein. It should be understood that the embodiments described are only exemplary of the invention that may be represented in various alternative forms thereof. As used herein, the word "exemplary" is used extensively to refer to modalities that serve as illustrations, samples, models, or patterns. The figures do not
they are necessarily at scale and some features can be magnified or minimized to show details of particular components. In other cases, known components, systems, materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid overshadowing the present invention. Therefore, the specific functional and structural details described herein will not be construed as limiting, but only as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching someone skilled in the art to employ the present invention in various ways. . Referring now to the drawings, in which similar numbers indicate similar elements throughout the various views, the drawings illustrate certain aspects of exemplary embodiments. With reference, first, to FIGURE. 1, there is shown a V-shaped cardboard box 5 loaded with cans 1 and including a strap handle 90, according to the present invention. The carton has substantially V-shaped lateral wall panels, spaced apart, parallel (only one side wall panel 20b is visible in FIGURE 1) interconnected by a band section 30. Because many of the features of the invention can not be observed in the exemplary embodiment of the cardboard box of FIGURE 1, for convenience of discussion
both FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2 are now referred to simultaneously. FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a template 10 for forming a V-shaped cardboard box, such as the exemplary embodiment of the V-shaped cardboard box 5 of FIGURE 1. Panels 20a, 20b of substantially V-shaped side wall, opposite, are arranged on opposite sides of a band section 30. Each sidewall panel 20a, 20b has a substantially V-shaped configuration defined by a perimeter 21a, 21b. The vertex portion 23a, 23b of the outer perimeter portion is a substantially straight line segment, flattened. In the reinforced cardboard box 5 of FIGURE 1, this flattened apex 23a, 23b is arranged substantially horizontally. Each side wall panel 20a, 20b is joined at its apex 23a, 23b to the band section 30 by a band connection panel 22, 24. These web connection panels 22, 24 are arranged identically in the template 10 and the reinforced cardboard box 5, but are identified by different numbers "22, 24" because they vary slightly in their construction. The band connection panel identified by the number "22" is slightly wider, as measured by the distance between the sidewall panel 20a and the band section 30, than the band connection panel identified by the number 24. . Although
these two panels 22, 24 can be constructed with identical dimensions, when the reinforced cardboard box 5 is used to pack beverage cans 1 (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3), the two band panels 22, 24 can be constructed slightly in a different way The reason for the slight difference in construction is that a typical beverage can has a lower end 2 and an upper end 3 (more clearly observed and especially identified in FIGURE 3) which are of a smaller diameter than the body of the can 1. In addition, the body of a can 1 typically tapers at the narrower lower end 3 or upper end 2. Referring now to FIGURE 3, the taper from the can body 1 to the upper end 3 is larger than the taper from the lower part of the can 1 to the lower end 2. The band connection panels 22, 24 are of different widths to adapt the difference in taper length. More specifically, a template connection panel 22 is made wider to accommodate the longer taper for the upper end 3 of the beverage can 1. Referring now in particular to the template of FIGURE 2, a joining flap 32 is foldably joined at one end of the band section 30. The operation of the joining flap 32 will be discussed later in this description.
A handle opening 36 for receiving and retaining in its place one end of a handle (such as the handle 90 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) is formed in each end region of the band section 30. Reinforcement panels 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b, opposite, are formed at each end of the band section 30. Each reinforcing panel 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b is joined to the band section 30 along a fold line 31. Although each fold line may take several forms, including that of a single marked line, in the exemplary embodiment each fold line 31 is a series of marked segments 33 and alternating cutting segments 35. The cutting segments 35 facilitate the folding of the marked segments 33 in order to provide what can be considered a weakened fold line 31. The use of the reinforcing panels 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b will be described later in this description. Each reinforcing panel 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b is designed and adapted to be folded from a flat face condition with its opposite pair and one end of the band section 30. Each reinforcing panel 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b has a set of window openings 44 which are dimensioned and arranged for alignment with receiving openings 52 which are elements of receiving members 50 which are in the band section 30. A handle opening 46 for alignment with the
handle opening 36 in each end region of the band section 30 and for receiving and retaining in place one end of a handle (such as the handle 90 shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5) is formed in each panel 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b reinforcement. The cardboard box 5 and the template 10 are made of a suitable substrate to form a cardboard box for packing articles. Although the side wall panels 20a, 20b can be attached to the band section 30 by various means for connecting substrates, in the exemplary embodiments, the template 10 and the carton 5 use various attachment mechanisms to join the panels 20a, 20b from side wall to band section 30. Each fastening mechanism is a piercing type mechanism, wherein a male fastening member engages and is secured therein. Referring now in particular to FIGURE 2, the band section 30 contains two parallel rows of reception members 50, 60, 70 distributed at predetermined locations. All receiving members 50, 60, 70 are identical in construction, but are identified by different numbers to help distinguish their various locations on the band section 30. The locations of the reception members 50, 60, 70 on the band section 30, in turn, correspond to locations of the fixing members 150a and 150b, 160a and 160b, 170a and 170b arranged
around the perimeter 21a, 21b of the side wall panels 20a, 20b. The receiving members 50 at each end of the band panel are indicated by the number "50", which, in turn, corresponds to the fixing members 150a and 150b in the inner segment of the V-shaped sidewall panels The next set of reception members 60, which has the numerical designation of "60", corresponds to the fixing members 160a and 160b arranged in what can be considered the end regions of each side wall panel 20a, 20b. The two sets of innermost receiving members 70, which have the numerical designation "70", correspond to the fixing members 170a and 170b arranged in what can be considered the lower outer region of the perimeter 21a, 21b of the form V. This location is also the perimeter region 21a, 21b that is adjacent to, or closer to, the substantially planar apex 23a, 23b of each substantially V-shaped sidewall panel 20a, 20b. Each member 50, 60, 70 The receiver has a reception opening 52 with an articulated door structure of opposite door panels 54, 56 joined in a foldable manner along respective fold lines 51, 53 to the band section 30. A crease line 53 along which a door panel 56 joins the band section 30 can be a crease line 53
weakened The weakened fold line 53 allows its associated door panel 56 to fold more easily than the other door panel 54. The weakened fold line 53 can be weakened by various means including the incorporation of a slight cut or notch along its length. Optionally, a fold line 39 may extend transversely through each region of the band section 30 adjacent to each more extreme region, dividing each of the second set of receiving members 60. As mentioned in the foregoing, the fixing members 150a, 150b, 160a, 160b, 170a, 170b are arranged around the perimeter 21a, 21b of the side wall panels 20a, 20b for coupling with the members 50, 60, 70 of reception. All fixing members 150a, 150b, 160a, 160b, 170a, 170b are identical in construction, but are identified by different numbers to help distinguish their various locations in each side wall panel 20a, 20b. Each fixing member 150a, 150b, 160a, 160b, 170a, 170b has a closure connection panel 26, 28 connecting the rest of the fixing members 50, 60, 70 to the respective side wall panel 20a, 20b. All the closing connection members 26, 28 associated with the same side wall panel 20a, 20b are constructed in the form
identical In addition, the closing connection members 26, 28 associated with a side wall panel 20a, 20b operate in the same manner as those associated with the other side wall panel 20b, 20a. However, as in the case of the two opposite band connection panels 22, 24, discussed previously herein, the closure connection panels 26, 28 associated with a sidewall panel 20a, 20b have a slight construction different from that of the closure connection panels 28, 26 associated with the other side wall panel 20b, 20a. The closing connection members 26, 28 are of two different sizes for the same reason discussed previously in which the band connection members 22, 24 are of two different sizes, ie, to adapt the upper and lower parts of the connecting members. beverage cans when the template 10 and the cardboard box 5 are designed to be used with them. Each of the set of closure connection panels 26 has substantially the same dimensions as the band connection panel 22 associated with the same side wall panel 20a. While each of the other set of closure connection panels 28 has substantially the same dimensions as the band connection panel 24 associated with the same side wall panel 20b. Each fixing member 150a, 150b, 160a, 160b, 170a, 170b has an identical fixing articulated panel 80
joined along a fold line 81 to a closure connection panel 26, 28. In each fastening member 150a, 150b, 160a, 160b, 170a, 170b a closure cage 82 is attached along a fold line 83 to an articulated closure panel 80. Opposing attachment tabs 84 are joined along respective fold lines 85 to each closure cage 82. Pairs of adjacent fixing members 150a, 150b, 170a, 170b are separated from each other along respective lines 151a, 151b, 171a, 171b. It is noted that the closing capo 82 and the associated fixing tab 84 of each fastening member 170a, 170b that is closer to a band connection member 22, 24 and that is located partially within the band section 30 it is separated and disconnected from the band section 30 along the line defining the closing capo 82 and the associated fixing tab 84. It is also noted that the regions 29a, 29b limited by these same attachment members 170a, 170b that are closer to the band connection panels 22, 24; the band connection panels 22, 24 per se; and the band panel, whose regions 29a, 29b are illustrated by dotting, are open. The template 10 can be assembled inside a cardboard box by various means, including by hand. With reference simultaneously to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the
Exemplary embodiment of a template 10 described herein is adapted to be hand assembled and loaded with beverage cans 1 to form the exemplary embodiment of a cardboard box 5 shown in FIGURES 1 and 3. The order of the stages of armed and loaded may vary; however, in general the side wall panels 20a, 20b can be folded with respect to the band section 30 and placed in a fixed, vertical condition. When the side wall panels 20a, 20b are placed in a vertical position, the apex portion 23a, 23b of each side wall panel 20a, 20b is arranged substantially horizontally and the portion of the band section 30 attached to vertex portions 23a, 23b by web connection panels 22, 24 assumes the position of a bottom wall for the assembled carton 5. What can be considered the lower diagonal sides of the V-shape can be assembled by coupling the fixing members identified by the numbers 170a, 170b with the corresponding receiving members 70. Each closing capo 82 is inserted through the doors 54, 56 of the reception members 70. The locking tabs 85 will at least bend slightly, but will then return, at least partially, to their original position once they pass through the doors 54, 56, thereby helping to secure and retain the nut 82 close within the
reception opening 52. The other fixing mechanisms are similarly engaged and the cans 1 which are loaded inside the partially reinforced cardboard box as desired. When loading, the lower ends 2 of the cans 1 are placed adjacent to the side wall panel 20b which is connected to the band section 30 by the band connection panel 24 having the narrowest width as the connection panel 22 band associated with the other side wall panel 20a. The template 10 and the cardboard box 5 of the particular exemplary embodiment are adjusted to load a can arrangement 1 of two by six. Referring now to FIGURE 4, a schematic representation of a possible alignment of cans 1 with respect to the side wall panels 20a, 20b is shown. The cardboard box 5 is closed by engaging the fixing members 150a, 150b along what may be considered the upper perimeter 21a of the upper wall panels 20a, 20b with their associated receiving members 50. However, before placing the ends of the band section 30 for closing the carton and coupling the fixing mechanisms, the reinforcing panels 40a, 40b, 42a, 42b at each end of the section 30 of band are folded over the lower part of the band section 30 in a flat face condition with it and with each other. By arranging the ends of section 30
of band for fastening, the ends are joined together and the joining flap 32 is inserted below the end edge of the opposite end of the band section 30. The ends of the band section 30 meet substantially in a shape that substantially defines what can be considered an intersection line 37. This intersection line 37 can also be considered a vertex of adjacent panels that intersect to form an upper part in V shape. When the carton 5 and the jig 10 are adapted for use with beverage cans 1, the fixing mechanisms can be separated to cover the spaces formed between the adjacent cans. FIGURE 4 illustrates this positioning and arrangement by the manner in which the fixing members 150a, 150b, 160a, 160b, 170a, 170b are aligned in the spaces between the cans 1. Referring now also to FIGURE 5, a handle 90 of strap can be inserted into the handle openings 36, 46 to provide a means for gripping and transporting the assembled and loaded carton 5. An exemplary embodiment of a belt handle 90 has a central region 92 attached to each end by a tapered region 94a, 94b, which in turn terminates in a transverse end piece 96a, 96b. The transverse end pieces 96a, 96b are inserted and retained by the handle openings 36, 46. The handle can be formed from any suitable durable substrate, such as material
plastic. The invention contemplates the use of a much stronger substrate for the handle than that which is used to form the template 10 and the cardboard box 5. With reference to FIGURES 6 and 7, exemplary embodiments of individual templates 12, 14 are shown which can be used as the equivalent of the sole template 10 shown in FIGURE 2 and which are suitable for joining and forming a cardboard box having a configuration at least substantially similar to that of the exemplary carton of FIGURES 1 and 3. In FIGURES 6 and 7, the reference numbers used to indicate characteristics are again used, but in a series of either "200" or "300". That is, each reference number used in FIGURE 2 is increased by "200" for the equivalent feature in the templates 12, 14 of FIGURES 6 and 7. The template 12 of FIGURE 6 is a wall panel template 12. side panel which is the equivalent of the side wall panel 20a, 20b of the template 10 of FIGURE 2. The main difference in the side wall panel 220 of FIGURE 6 is that instead of the band connection panel 22 of the template 10 of FIGURE 2, the template 12 of FIGURE 6 has an additional fixing mechanism 390. In the band panel template 14 of FIGURE 7, the receiving members 290 correspond to and are adapted to receive the additional fixing mechanism 390.
Instead of total reinforcing panels 40a, 40b that are contained in the template 10 of FIGURE 2, the band panel template 14 has what may be considered panels 240a, 240b, 242a, 242b of a reinforcing means, opposite, each one with half the number of window openings 244 and half of each handle opening 246 that is contained in the total template 10. A cardboard box 5 can be formed from two side wall panel templates 12 and a band panel template 14. The three templates 12, 14 can initially be joined through the coupling of the fixing member 390 adjacent the vertex 223 and the corresponding receiving member 290. Then, the cardboard box can be loaded and assembled as previously described with respect to the sole, total jig. Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 3, and also to FIGURE 8, the carton 5 can be considered a substantially tubular structure formed from a plurality of wall panels. According to this view, the adjacent panels 38a, 38b which are the end regions of the band section 30 (and 230) come together to form the intersection line 37 previously discussed herein. Each adjacent panel 38a, 38b has an outer surface. With reference now in particular to the partial perspective view of the end portions of the
adjacent panels 38a, 38b, the outer surfaces of adjacent panels 38a, 38b form an angle a less than 180 degrees around intersecting line 37. Adjacent panels 38a, 38b are juxtaposed with respect to each other along the line 37 of intersection. The invention contemplates that the adjacent panels 38a, 38b may be portions of a contiguous panel folded around the intersecting line 37, as illustrated in FIGURE 8. In the exemplary embodiment of the carton 5 illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3, the adjacent panels 38a, 38b are brought together, at least partially, held in place by the joining flap 32. Because the joining flap 32 is foldably joined to one end of the band section 30, it can also be considered that the adjacent panels 38a, 38b are foldably joined to a certain degree. It will be understood that, as used herein, the term "suitable substrate" includes all forms of sheet-like, foldable materials, such as cardboard, corrugated cardboard, plastic or the like. The various types of lines (ie, "fold", "cut", etc.) employed in the exemplary embodiments have been described in the above very specifically when it is suitable to apply the teachings of the invention. However, in general, the terms "fold line" and "line"
Separation "refers to all forms of printed lines that indicate optimal folding or cutting locations, brittle or otherwise weakened lines, perforations, a line of perforations, a line of small commissures, a line of mid-cut, a cut unique medium, a cut line, marked lines, slits, any combination thereof and the like Any "cut" line specifically referred to herein includes lines that separate or completely detach one portion of the substrate from another. "fold" lines in the attached drawings are shown as continuous lines and some are shown with alternating fold segments (single line segment) and cut segments (line segment more highlighted, wider). continuous bends are used in cases where a less aggressive folding according to the teachings of the invention may be suitable. line around which they can be folded portions of the substrate, but not as easily provide a less aggressive fold compared to a more aggressive folding. A line around which portions of the substrate can be folded more easily facilitates a more aggressive folding. As an example of less aggressive folding, less aggressive folding may be appropriate in cases where the substrate does not have to be folded
around the fold line towards a total flat face condition, such as to form walls that intersect substantially perpendicularly. Another example in which less aggressive folding may be suitable is in those cases in which the portions of substrate to be folded are not substantially inhibited from the fold, such as by binding to other regions of the substrate. A suitable less aggressive folding line is a marked line. The alternating fold segments (single line segment) and cut segments (line segment more highlighted, wider) are shown in cases where a more aggressive folding may be required. In other words, a line around which portions of the substrate can be folded more easily facilitates a more aggressive folding. Examples where more aggressive folding may be required are included in cases where it is required that portions of the substrate be folded towards a substantially flat face condition and in cases where the portions of substrate to be folded are joined together. to other portions of substrate that tend to inhibit the fold. A more suitable fold line that facilitates more folding, or, indicated in a different way, which facilitates more aggressive folding, is a notched line or a line otherwise formed of alternate cuts and marks or uncut portions.
The surfaces of the sheet material can be secured together by suitable means for fastening, such suitable fastening means include tape, staples, interleaving folds, VELCRO®, glue or other adhesives and the like. The embodiments described in the foregoing are only exemplary illustrations of established applications for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Variations, modifications and combinations may be made to the modalities described in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the claims. All variations, modifications and combinations are included herein by the scope of this description and the following claims.
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