Carton and blank for making same

Claim 2

A carton for a bottle having a body and an elongated upwardly extending neck provided with a closure, said carton comprising: a pair of opposed sides having front and rear edges; a front wall connected between said front edges; a rear wall connected between said rear edges; a top panel connected to one of said side walls; and a reinforcing flap connected to the other of said walls and being disposed beneath said top panel, said flap being foldably connected to said other wall along a first score line and comprising a second score line arranged in parallel spaced relation to said first score line defining a first strip therebetween, a third score line disposed in parallel spaced relation to said second score line defining a second strip therebetween, score means disposed parallel to the third score line defining strip means therebetween, and an H-shaped cut between said third score line and score means, said H-shaped cut and score means defining a roughly T-shaped terminal outer portion of said flap, said outer portion being defined by a leg disposed perpendicular to said other wall and a cross arm adjoining and disposed parallel to said leg, said leg being sandwiched between said closure and top panel and thereby holding said flap adjacent the top of said carton, said second strip and said strip means defining a portion of said flap which adjoins said terminal portion and has opposed supporting side edges disposed in spaced relation beneath said top panel enabling said flap to serve as a horizontal reinforcement against collapse of said sides upon squeezing said sides toward each other in grasping said carton.

Claim 3

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said first strip is disposed against said other wall and said second strip is disposed transverse said first strip.

Claim 4

A carton as set forth in claim 2 in which said second strip is disposed so as to define an acute angle between said first and second strips.

Claim 5

A carton as set forth in claim 2 in which said second strip is disposed at an angle of 90° to said first strip.

Claim 6

A carton as set forth in claim 4 in which said third score line and said H-shaped cut define a tab member which is supported by said neck substantially perpendicular to said third score line.

Claim 7

A carton as set forth in claim 5 in which said tab member extends perpendicularly upwardly from said third score line.

Claim 8

A carton as set forth in claim 5 in which said tab member extends perpendicularly downwardly from said third score line.

Claim 9

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said sides have extensions which are foldably connected thereto and to said top panel and cooperate to define a top wall for said carton, said extensions being bifolded with said top panel folded thereagainst to define a top wall for said carton.

Claim 10

A carton as set forth in claim 8 in which said top panel has a tuck flap foldably connected thereto and adapted to be inserted against said first strip sandwiching said first strip between said other wall and said tuck flap.

Claim 11

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said first strip has a width which is narrower than the width of said other wall, said other wall is said front wall, and the remainder of said reinforcing flap has a width that is substantially equal to said front wall throughout the major part of its extension from said front wall.

Claim 12

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said first strip is disposed against said other wall, said second strip is disposed substantially horizontally, and said strip means is defined by a pair of rectangular strips adjoining opposite end portions of said third score line, each rectangular strip extending upwardly from said third score line to an associated portion of said score means, said second strip and said strip means defining said opposed supporting side edges each of which is arranged in a substantially L-shaped configuration.

Claim 13

A carton as set forth in claim 1 in which said H-shaped cut is defined by a pair of spaced parallel legs disposed perpendicular to said third score line and having a transverse arm disposed between said legs parallel to said third score line.

Claim 14

A carton as set forth in claim 12 in which said strip means is defined by a pair of strips on opposite sides of said parallel legs of said H-shaped cut and further comprising a pair of score lines disposed in aligned relation in said strip means as continuations at opposite ends of said transverse arm of said H-shaped cut with each of said pair of score lines defining an associated apex of an associated one of said pair of strips disposed in a V-shaped pattern, said opposed supporting side edges being defined by opposed edges of said second strip and outer edges of said strips disposed in a V-shaped pattern, each of said strips disposed in a V-shaped pattern serving as a V-shaped reinforcing rib.

Claim 15

A carton for a bottle having a body and an elongated upwardly extending neck provided with a closure and having an initially unshrunk shrinkable plastic sleeve disposed against said closure and neck with said sleeve being subsequently shrunk in position; said carton comprising; a pair of opposed sides having front and rear edges; a front wall connected between said front edges; a rear wall connected between said rear edges; a top panel connected to one of said walls; and a reinforcing flap connected to the other of said walls and being disposed beneath said top panel; said flap having a terminal portion thereof sandwiched between said closure and top panel thereby holding said flap adjacent the top of said carton; said flap having a portion adjoining said terminal portion which has opposed supporting side edges disposed in spaced relation beneath said top panel enabling said flap to serve as a horizontal reinforcement against collapse of said sides upon squeezing said sides toward each other in grasping said carton; said terminal outer portion having a roughly T-shaped configuration defined by a leg disposed perpendicular to said other wall and an adjoining crossarm disposed parallel thereto; said leg being disposed above said closure; said flap being foldably connected to said other wall along a first score line and further comprising, a second score line arranged in parallel spaced relation to said first score line defining a first strip therebetween, a third score line disposed in parallel spaced relation to said second score line defining a second strip therebetween, score means disposed parallel to said third score line defining strip means therebetween, and an H-shaped cut between said third score line and score means, said H-shaped cut and score means defining said T-shaped outer portion with said second strip and said strip means having edges defining said opposed supporting edges, said third score line and said H-shaped cut defining a tab member which is supported by said neck.

Claim 16

A carton for a bottle having a body and an elongated upwardly extending neck provided with a closure and having an initially unshrunk shrinkable plastic sleeve disposed against said closure and neck with said sleeve being subsequently shrunk in position; said carton comprising; a pair of opposed sides having front and rear edges; a front wall connected between said front edges; a rear wall connected between said rear edges; a top panel connected to one of said walls; and a reinforcing flap connected to the other of said walls and being disposed beneath said top panel; said flap having a terminal portion thereof sandwiched between said closure and top panel thereby holding said flap adjacent the top of said carton; said flap having a portion adjoining said terminal portion which has opposed supporting side edges disposed in spaced relation beneath said top panel enabling said flap to serve as a horizontal reinforcement against collapse of said sides upon squeezing said sides toward each other in grasping said carton; said terminal outer portion having a roughly T-shaped configuration defined by a leg disposed perpendicular to said other wall and an adjoining crossarm disposed parallel thereto; said leg being disposed above said closure; said flap being foldably connected to said other wall along a first score line and further comprising, a second score line arranged in parallel spaced relation to said first score line defining a first strip therebetween, a third score line disposed in parallel spaced relation to said second score line defining a second strip therebetween, score means disposed parallel to said third score line defining strip means therebetween, and an H-shaped cut between said third score line and score means, said H-shaped cut and score means defining said T-shaped outer portion with said second strip and said strip means having edges defining said opposed supporting edges, said third score line and said H-shaped cut defining a tab member which is supported by said neck.

Claim 17

A carton as set forth in claim 14 in which said tab member engages and is supported by said closure and said leg of said T-shaped outer portion engages and is supported by said tab member such that said unshrunk sleeve is essentially isolated and allowed to shrink in an unobstructed manner with said top panel closed.

Claim 18

A carton as set forth in claim 14 in which said leg of said T-shaped outer portion engages and is supported by said closure.

Claim 19

A carton as set forth in claim 16 in which said tab member extends vertically upwardly from said third score line and engages said unshrunk sleeve holding said unshrunk sleeve lightly against said closure with said unshrunk sleeve making essentially a line contact with said closure thereby enabling said unshrunk sleeve to shrink in a substantially unobstructed manner with said top panel closed.

Claim 20

A carton as set forth in claim 16 in which said tab member extends vertically downwardly from said third score line and engages said unshrunk sleeve holding said unshrunk sleeve lightly against said closure and neck with said unshrunk sleeve making essentially a line contact with said closure and neck thereby enabling said unshrunk sleeve to shrink in a substantially unobstructed manner with said top panel closed.

Claim 21

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a carton for a bottle upon assembly thereof with said bottle having a body and an elongated upwardly extending neck provided with a closure and having an initially unshrunk shrinkable plastic sleeve disposed against said closure and neck with said sleeve being subsequently shrunk in position; said blank comprising; a pair of opposed sides having edges defining front and rear edges in said resulting carton; a front wall connected between said front edges in said resulting carton; a rear wall connected between said rear edges in said resulting carton; a top panel connected to one of said walls; and a reinforcing flap connected to the other of said walls and being disposed beneath said top panel in said resulting carton; said flap having a terminal portion thereof sandwiched between said closure and top panel thereby holding said flap adjacent the top of said resulting carton; said flap having a portion adjoining said terminal portion which has opposed supporting side edges disposed in spaced relation beneath said top panel in said resulting carton enabling said flap to serve as a horizontal reinforcement against collapse of said sides upon squeezing said sides toward each other in grasping said resulting carton; said terminal outer portion having a roughly T-shaped configuration defined by a leg disposed perpendicular to said other wall of said resulting carton and an adjoining cross-arm disposed parallel thereto; said leg being disposed above said closure in said resulting carton; said flap being foldably connected to said other wall along a first score line and further comprising, a second score line arranged in parallel spaced relation to said first score line defining a first strip therebetween, a third score line disposed in parallel spaced relation to said second score line defining a second strip therebetween, score means disposed parallel to said third score line defining strip means therebetween, and an H-shaped cut between said third score line and score means, said H-shaped cut and score means defining said T-shaped outer portion with said second strip and said strip means having edges defining said opposed supporting edges in said resulting carton, said third score line and said H-shaped cut defining a tab member which is adapted to be supported by said neck of said bottle in said resulting carton.

Claim 22

A blank being suitably cut and scored to define a carton for a bottle upon assembly thereof with said bottle having a body and an elongated upwardly extending neck provided with a closure and having an initially unshrunk shrinkable plastic sleeve disposed against said closure and neck with said sleeve being subsequently shrunk in position; said blank comprising; a pair of opposed sides having edges defining front and rear edges in said resulting carton; a front wall connected between said front edges in said resulting carton; a rear wall connected between said rear edges in said resulting carton; a top panel connected to one of said walls; and a reinforcing flap connected to the other of said walls and being disposed beneath said top panel in said resulting carton; said flap having a terminal portion thereof sandwiched between said closure and top panel thereby holding said flap adjacent the top of said resulting carton; said flap having a portion adjoining said terminal portion which has opposed supporting side edges disposed in spaced relation beneath said top panel in said resulting carton enabling said flap to serve as a horizontal reinforcement against collapse of said sides upon squeezing said sides toward each other in grasping said resulting carton; said terminal outer portion having a roughly T-shaped configuration defined by a leg disposed perpendicular to said other wall of said resulting carton and an adjoining cross-arm disposed parallel thereto; said leg being disposed above said closure in said resulting carton; said flap being foldably connected to said other wall along a first score line and further comprising, a second score line arranged in parallel spaced relation to said first score line defining a first strip therebetween, a third score line disposed in parallel spaced relation to said second score line defining a second strip therebetween, score means disposed parallel to said third score line defining strip means therebetween, and an H-shaped cut between said third score line and score means, said H-shaped cut and score means defining said T-shaped outer portion with said second strip and said strip means having edges defining said opposed supporting edges in said resulting carton, said third score line and said H-shaped cut defining a tab member which is adapted to be supported by said neck of said bottle in said resulting carton.

Claim 23

A blank as set forth in claim 19 in which said sides have extensions which are foldably connected thereto and to said top panel and cooperate to define a top wall for said resulting carton, said extensions being bifolded with said top panel folded thereagainst to define said top wall for said resulting carton.

Claim 24

A blank as set forth in claim 20 in which said top panel has a tuck flap foldably connected thereto and adapted to be inserted against said first strip sandwiching said first strip between said other wall and said tuck flap in said resulting carton.

Claim 25

A blank as set forth in claim 21 in which said first strip has a width which is narrower than the width of said other wall, said other wall is said front wall of said resulting carton, and the remainder of said reinforcing flap has a width that is substantially equal to said front wall of said resulting carton throughout the major part of its extension from said front wall.

Claim 26

A blank as set forth in claim 20 in which said first strip is disposed against said other wall in said resulting carton, said second strip is disposed substantially horizontally in said resulting carton, and said strip means is defined by a pair of rectangular strips adjoining opposite end portions of said third score line, each rectangular strip extending upwardly from said third score line to an associated portion of said score means in said resulting carton, said second strip and said strip means defining said opposed supporting side edges in said resulting carton each of which is arranged in a substantially L-shaped configuration.

Claim 27

A blank as set forth in claim 20 in which said H-shaped cut is defined by a pair of spaced parallel legs disposed perpendicular to said third score line and having a transverse arm disposed between said legs parallel to said third score line.

Claim 28

A blank as set forth in claim 24 in which said strip means is defined by a pair of strips on opposite sides of said parallel legs of said H-shaped cut and further comprising a pair of score lines disposed in aligned relation in said strip means as continuations at opposite ends of said transverse arm of said H-shaped cut with each of said pair of score lines defining an associated apex of an associated one of said pair of strips which is disposed in a V-shaped pattern in said resulting carton, said opposed supporting side edges being defined by opposed edges of said second strip and outer edges of said strips each of which is disposed in a V-shaped pattern in said resulting carton, each of said strips disposed in said V-shaped pattern in said resulting carton serving as a V-shaped reinforcing rib.