Sleeve style carton

Claim 2

A sleeve style closed end carton for a can matrix having a corner can at each corner of said matrix, each corner can having a head, a body, and a heel, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each corner can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said corner can's body, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, and each of said walls having opposed ends, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, said upper gaps being wider than said lower gaps, and said upper gaps being of a width about equal to the height of a can's head and said lower gaps being of a width about equal to the height of a can's heel, top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton.

Claim 3

A carton as set forth in claim 1, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix, each end can row having plural cans each of which presents a head rim with an outer edge, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said to wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix.

Claim 4

A carton as set forth in claim 2, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line, each end can of each can line presenting a head rim with an outer edge, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 5

A carton as set forth in claim 3, each end can row having plural cans each of which presents a heel rim with an outer edge, each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix.

Claim 6

A carton as set forth in claim 4, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 7

A carton as set forth in claim 5, each end can row having said corner cans each of which presents a can body with an outside face, the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 8

A carton as set forth in claim 6, each end can of each can line presenting a can body with an outside face, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 9

A carton as set forth in claim 1, the length of each corner flap being such that each said corner flap overlaps only that corner can in an end can row associated with said corner flap when said can matrix is viewed in end view.

Claim 10

A carton as set forth in claim 1, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said other of said top and bottom end panels.

Claim 11

A carton as set forth in claim 1, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton comprising a notch at each corner of said one end panel, the other of said top and bottom end panels being glued to both corner flaps through said notches.

Claim 12

A carton blank for a sleeve style closed end carton having a corner can at each corner of said matrix, each corner can having a head, a body, and a heel, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each corner can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said corner can's body, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, and each of said walls having opposed ends, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, said upper gaps being wider than said lower gaps, and said upper gaps being of a width about equal to the height of a can's head and said lower gaps being of a width about equal to the height of a can's heel, and top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton.

Claim 13

A carton blank for a sleeve style closed end carton having a corner can at each corner of said matrix, each corner can having a head, a body, and a heel, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each corner can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said corner can's body, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, and each of said walls having opposed ends, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, said upper gaps being wider than said lower gaps, and said upper gaps being of a width about equal to the height of a can's head and said lower gaps being of a width about equal to the height of a can's heel, and top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton.

Claim 14

A carton blank as set forth in claim 11, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix, each end can row having plural cans each of which present a head rim with an outer edge, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said top wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix when a carton is erected from said carton blank.

Claim 15

A carton blank as set forth in claim 12, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line, each end can of each can line presenting a head rim with an outer edge, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 16

A carton blank as set forth in claim 13, each can row having plural cans each of which present a heel rim with an outer edge, each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 17

A carton blank as set forth in claim 14, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 18

A carton blank as set forth in claim 15, each end can row having said corner cans each of which presents a can body with an outside face, the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 19

A carton blank as set forth in claim 16, each end can of each can line presenting a can body with an outside face, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 20

A carton blank as set forth in claim 11, the length of each corner flap being such that each said corner flap overlaps only that corner can in an end can row associated with said corner flap when said can matrix is viewed in end view of a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 21

A carton blank as set forth in claim 11, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton blank comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said other of said top and bottom end panels during erecting of a carton from said carton blank.

Claim 22

A carton blank as set forth in claim 11, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton blank comprising a notch at each corner of said one end panel, the other of said top and bottom end panels being glued to both corner flaps through said notches in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 23

A sleeve style closed end carton for a can matrix having a corner can at each corner of said matrix, each corner can having a head, a body, and a heel, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each corner can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said corner can's body, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, aid walls being foldably connected one to the other, and each of said walls having opposed ends, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner cans' head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, and at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said other of said top and bottom end panels.

Claim 24

A sleeve style closed end carton for a can matrix having a corner can at each corner of said matrix, each corner can having a head, a body, and a heel, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each corner can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said corner can's body, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, aid walls being foldably connected one to the other, and each of said walls having opposed ends, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner cans' head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, and at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said other of said top and bottom end panels.

Claim 25

A carton as set forth in claim 21, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix, each end can row having plural cans each of which presents a head rim with an outer edge, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix.

Claim 26

A carton as set forth in claim 22, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line, each end can of each can line presenting a head rim with an outer edge, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 27

A carton as set forth in claim 23, each end can row having plural cans each of which presents a heel rim with an outer edge, each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix.

Claim 28

A carton as set forth in claim 24, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 29

A carton as set forth in claim 25, each end can row having said corner cans each of which presents a can body with an outside face, the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 30

A carton as set forth in claim 26, each end can of each can line presenting a can body with an outside face, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other.

Claim 31

A carton as set forth in claim 21, said upper gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' heads and said lower gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' heels.

Claim 32

A carton as set forth in claim 21, the length of each corner flap being such that each said corner flap overlaps only that corner can in an end can row associated with said corner flap when said can matrix is viewed in end view.

Claim 33

A carton as set forth in claim 21, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton comprising a notch at each corner of said one end panel, the outer of said top and bottom end panels being glued to both corner flaps through said notches.

Claim 34

A carton blank for a sleeve style closed end carton having a corner can at each corner of said matrix, each corner can having a head, a body, and a heel, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each corner can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said corner can's body, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, and each of said walls having opposed ends, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, and top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, and at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton blank comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said other of said top and bottom end panels during erection of a carton from said carton blank.

Claim 35

A carton blank for a sleeve style closed end carton having a corner can at each corner of said matrix, each corner can having a head, a body, and a heel, each corner can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each corner can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said corner can's body, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, and each of said walls having opposed ends, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, and top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, and at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton blank comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said other of said top and bottom end panels during erection of a carton from said carton blank.

Claim 36

A carton blank as set forth in claim 31, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix, each end can row having plural cans each of which present a head rim with an outer edge, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said top wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix when a carton is erected from said carton blank.

Claim 37

A carton blank as set forth in claim 32, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line, each end can of each can line presenting a head rim with an outer edge, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 38

A carton blank as set forth in claim 33, each can row having plural cans each of which present a heel rim with an outer edge, each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 39

A carton blank as set forth in claim 34, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 40

A carton blank as set forth in claim 35, each end can row having said corner cans each of which presents a can body with an outside face, the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 41

A carton blank as set forth in claim 36, each end can of each can line presenting a can body with an outside face, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a can line of said can matrix measured form outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 42

A carton blank as set forth in claim 31, said upper gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' heads and said lower gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' heels.

Claim 43

A carton blank as set forth in claim 31, the length of each corner flap being such that each said corner flap overlaps only that corner can in an end can row associated with said corner flap when said can matrix is viewed in end view of a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 44

A carton blank as set forth in claim 31, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton blank comprising a notch at each corner of said one end panel, the other of said top and bottom end panels being glued to both corner flaps through said notches in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 45

A sleeve style closed end carton for a can matrix where each can of said matrix includes a head, a body, and a heel, each can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said can's body, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix with each end can row having plural cans each of which presents a head rim with an outer edge, a heel rim with an outer edge, and a can body with an outside face, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line that is located in said end can row, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, each of said walls having opposed ends, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a con line of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other, and the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said top wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix, and each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix.

Claim 46

A sleeve style closed end carton for a can matrix where each can of said matrix includes a head, a body, and a heel, each can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said can's body, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix with each end can row having plural cans each of which presents a head rim with an outer edge, a heel rim with an outer edge, and a can body with an outside face, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line that is located in said end can row, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, each of said walls having opposed ends, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a con line of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other, and the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in top plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when said carton is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said top wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix, and each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix.

Claim 47

A carton as set forth in claim 41, said upper gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' head and said lower gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' heels.

Claim 48

A carton as set forth in claim 41, the length of each corner flap being such that each said corner flap overlaps only that corner can in an end can row associated with said corner flap when said can matrix is viewed in end view.

Claim 49

A carton as set forth in claim 41, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said outer of said top and bottom end panels.

Claim 50

A carton as set forth in claim 41, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton comprising a notch at each corner of said one end panel, the other of said top and bottom end panels being glued to both corner flaps through said notches.

Claim 51

A carton blank for a sleeve style closed end carton where each can of said matrix includes a head, a body, and a heel, each can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said can's body, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix with each end can row having plural cans each of which present a head rim with an outer edge, a heel rim with an outer edge, and a can body with an outside face, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line that is located in said end can row, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, each of said walls having opposed ends, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, and the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed pin to plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said top wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix when a carton is erected from said carton blank, each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 52

A carton blank for a sleeve style closed end carton where each can of said matrix includes a head, a body, and a heel, each can's head and heel having a rim of an outside diameter less than the outside diameter of said body, and each can's head and heel including a tapered portion by which said head and heel rims, respectively, are connected with said can's body, said can matrix having an end can row at each end of said can matrix with each end can row having plural cans each of which present a head rim with an outer edge, a heel rim with an outer edge, and a can body with an outside face, said can matrix having plural can lines with each can line having an end can at each end of said can line that is located in said end can row, said carton comprising top, bottom and opposed side walls, said walls being foldably connected one to the other, each of said walls having opposed ends, the length of said top wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, the length of said bottom wall being about equal to but no less than the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outer edge to outer edge of the can head rims of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, the length of each of said top and bottom walls being not as great as the length of a can line of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said can line when all adjacent cans of said can line are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, and the width of each of said top and bottom walls being no less than the length of an end can row of said can matrix measured from outside face to outside face of the can bodies of those cans at opposite ends of said end can row when all adjacent cans of said end can row are in body contact one with the other in a carton erected from said carton blank, curved corner structure defined by each of said top and bottom walls, each top and bottom wall having each corner configured proximately to overlie but not extend substantially beyond a corner can's head and heel rims, respectively, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed pin to plan view and bottom plan view, respectively, a corner flap formed integral with each side wall at each end of each side wall, each corner flap being wrapped around a corner can, each corner flap having a top edge spaced from said top wall so as to define an upper gap between said corner flap and said top wall, and also having a bottom edge spaced from said bottom wall so as to define a lower gap between said corner flap and said bottom wall, so that said tapered portion of each corner can's head and heel is partially visible when a carton erected from said carton blank is filled with said can matrix and is viewed in side or end elevation view, top and bottom end panels foldably connected to opposed ends of said top and bottom walls, respectively, at least one of said top and bottom end panels being connected to said corner flaps at each end of said carton, and said top and bottom end panels being connected to each other at each end of said carton, to effect closure of said carton, each said top end panel being foldably connected to said top wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a top view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' head rims in an end can row of said can matrix when a carton is erected from said carton blank, each said bottom end panel being foldably connected to said bottom wall along a fold line that substantially overlies a bottom view phantom tangent line drawn along said outer edges of all cans' heel rims in an end can row of said can matrix in a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 53

A carton blank as set forth in claim 46, said upper gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' heads and said lower gaps being of a width about equal to the height of said corner cans' heels.

Claim 54

A carton blank as set forth in claim 46, the length of each corner flap being such that each said corner flap overlaps only that corner can in an end can row associated with said corner flap when said can matrix is viewed in end view of a carton erected from said carton blank.

Claim 55

A carton blank as set forth in claim 46, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton blank comprising an outer glue panel foldably connected to an inner locator panel, said locator panel being foldably connected to one of said top and bottom walls, said locator panel being folded into closure relation with the other of said top and bottom end panels prior to said glue panel being glued to said other of said top and bottom end panels during erection of a carton from said carton blank.

Claim 56

A carton blank as set forth in claim 46, at least one of said top and bottom end panels at each end of said carton blank comprising a notch at each corner of said one end panel, the other of said top and bottom end panels being glued to both corner flaps through said notches in a carton erected from said carton blank.