Over-wrapped carton and associated production method

Abstract

A standard printed paperboard beverage carton is replaced with a generically printed or blank paperboard carton which is later over-wrapped with a printed film that may be applied in the customer's bottling plant after filled cans are inserted therein and the paperboard carton erected. The over wrap concept of this invention allows for a reduction in paperboard consumption for the production of the cartons and the requirements for each individual carton while still providing appropriate coverage and concealment of the containers within the carton. Once the carton has been over-wrapped with the film, the customer must still be able to penetrate the over wrap to utilize a handle formed in the die-cut paperboard carton. This is accomplished by perforating the over wrap film in registration and after it is applied to the filled carton.

1 . A method of producing a package containing a plurality of items, the method comprising the steps of: 
 producing a carton substrate;    erecting a carton from the carton substrate, the carton including a convenience feature accessible to a user from the exterior of the carton;    filling the carton with the plurality of items such that the each of the items is substantially bounded by the carton;    over-wrapping the filled carton with a film; and    scoring a portion of the film proximate the convenience feature on the carton and thereby facilitating access by the user to the convenience feature through the film.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the convenience feature is one of the following: 
 a dispenser; and    a handle.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 scoring the carton substrate to define the convenience feature.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the scoring of the film is accomplished by one of the following techniques: 
 directing a laser onto the film; and    applying a die to the film.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the over-wrapping of the carton with the film substantially covers the entire carton with the film.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the producing of the carton substrate and the over-wrapping of the film are accomplished at first and second sites, respectively, which are geographically remote from one another.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the convenience feature is accessed by the user without removing any of the items from the package.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the filling of the carton further comprises: 
 substantially concealing each of the items within the carton.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 applying multi-color graphics to the film prior to over-wrapping the filled carton with the film.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 selecting one of a plurality of films for over-wrapping the filled carton wherein each of the plurality of films has a different graphic representation thereon.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the scoring of the film occurs after the over-wrapping of the filled carton.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the scoring of the film occurs before the over-wrapping of the filled carton, the method further comprising: 
 aligning the scored portion of the film with the convenience feature on the carton.    
   
   
       13 . A method of producing a package containing a plurality of beverage containers, the method comprising the steps of: 
 producing a carton substrate;    scoring the carton substrate to define a convenience feature;    erecting a carton from the carton substrate, the carton including the convenience feature accessible to a user from the exterior of the carton;    wherein the convenience feature is one of a dispenser and a handle;    filling the carton with the plurality of beverage containers such that the each of the beverage containers is substantially bounded by the carton;    over-wrapping the filled carton with a film;    wherein the over-wrapping of the carton with the film substantially covers the entire carton with the film; and    scoring a portion of the film proximate the convenience feature on the carton and thereby facilitating access by the user to the convenience feature through the film;    wherein the scoring of the film is accomplished by one of the techniques of directing a laser onto the film and applying a die to the film.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the producing of the carton substrate and the over-wrapping of the film are accomplished at first and second sites, respectively, which are geographically remote from one another.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the convenience feature is accessed by the user without removing any of the beverage containers from the package.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the filling of the carton further comprises: 
 substantially concealing each of the beverage containers within the carton.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 applying multi-color graphics to the film prior to over-wrapping the filled carton with the film.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 selecting one of a plurality of films for over-wrapping the filled carton wherein each of the plurality of films has a different graphic representation thereon.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the scoring of the film occurs after the over-wrapping of the filled carton.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the scoring of the film occurs before the over-wrapping of the filled carton, the method further comprising: 
 aligning the scored portion of the film with the convenience feature on the carton.