Carton With Heat Shrink Patch

Abstract

Blanks, cartons, packaging assemblies, and methods for applying a heat-shrink patch to a carton for forming a shape of contents in, or to be placed in, a carton are provided. The carton includes at least one side and at least one void. At least one heat-shrink patch is applied by an adhesive is applied in a registered pattern to cover the at least one void. The carton is formed from the blank, with contents being inserted into the carton either at the time of forming or subsequent to forming, and the at least one heat-shrink patch is heated to conform to a shape of contents in, or to be placed in, the carton.

1 . A product package comprising:
 a product carton having a plurality of sides defining a sleeve in which a product is received, and at least one void formed in at least one of said sides and forming a window through which the product can be viewed; and   a film patch applied to said at least one side in which said at least one void is formed, wherein said patch comprises a shrink-wrap material and is of a configuration and size to cover said void with an excess amount of said shrink-wrap material provided sufficient to enable said film patch to contract substantially about the product upon activation of said shrink-wrap material without disturbing or altering an assembled shape of said product carton.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive applied in a registered pattern about said at least one void for attaching said film patch to said at least one side. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said sides of said carton are adapted to flex with contraction of said film patch about the product. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 1  wherein multiple voids are formed in multiple sides. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4  wherein more than one patch is attached to the carton with each said patch of the more than one patch covering at least one of the multiple voids. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 1  and further comprising multiple voids extending from the sides into the ends of the package. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6  wherein more than one patch is attached to the carton with each of said patches covering at least one of the multiple voids. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said sides remain substantially rigid in response to the contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said patch is attached to said at least one of said sides by adhesive, welding, or heat. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said patch is heated to contract the patch about the product. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10  wherein more than one patch can be attached to said carton and wherein application of heat is different for different areas of said carton or for said more than one patch. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 1  wherein said patch is pre-shrunk at least partially prior to insertion of the product in said carton. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 12  wherein said patch is contracted from its pre-shrunk configuration to a contracted position to conform substantially to the product. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13  wherein the product is restrained from movement with respect to the package when said patch is in its contracted position. 
     
     
         15 . A method of foaming a product package, the method comprising:
 providing a blank comprising a series of side panels connected along longitudinal fold lines, end flaps connected to at least one of the side panels along transverse fold lines, and at least one void in at least one of the side panels;   providing a film patch of shrink-wrap material of a configuration and size sufficient to cover the at least one void and provide an excess amount of shrink-wrap material to enclose substantially a product;   attaching the film patch to the blank in a position covering the at least one void;   folding the side panels of the blank along the transverse fold lines to foam a product carton for the product; and   applying heat to the film patch for a desired time and at a desired temperature to cause contraction of the film patch about the product within the product carton.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the patch is attached to the blank by an adhesive applied in a registered pattern about said at least one void. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the side panels of the formed product carton are adapted to flex with contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the side panels remain substantially rigid in response to the contraction of the patch about the product. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the product is restrained from movement with respect to the package when said patch is in its contracted position. 
     
     
         20 . A carton comprising:
 a blank having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a series of panels, and end flaps along a first end and a second end;   at least a first void in at least one of the panels;   a shrink-wrap patch covering the first void and being adhered to the blank along adhesion positions on the interior surface of the blank;   wherein the adhesion positions are spaced from the void a distance to enable the patch to contract substantially about a product within the carton upon activation of the shrink-wrap material without disturbing or altering an assembled shape of the carton.   
     
     
         21 . The carton of  claim 20  wherein said panels are adapted to flex with contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         22 . The carton of  claim 20  wherein said panels remain substantially rigid in response to the contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         23 . The carton of  claim 20  wherein the product is restrained from movement with respect to the package when said patch is in its contracted position. 
     
     
         24 . A method of forming a carton blank comprising:
 providing a carton blank, the blank having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and including panels and end flaps along a first end and a second end, the blank including at least a one void in at least one of the panels;   applying an adhesive to the interior surface of the blank spaced a specified distance from the at least one void; and,   overlaying a shrink-wrap patch in registration with the blank to adhere to the adhesive and to cover the at least one void.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the patch is attached to the blank by an adhesive applied in a registered pattern about said at least one void. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the panels are adapted to flex with contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said sides remain substantially rigid in response to the contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the product is restrained from movement with respect to the package when said patch is in its contracted position. 
     
     
         29 . A sealed package with a viewing window through which a product can be viewed, the package comprising:
 a blank having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and including panels and end flaps along a first end and a second end;   at least a first void in at least one of the panels so as to define the viewing window;   a shrink-wrap patch covering the first void and being adhered to the blank along adhesion positions on the interior surface of the blank; and,   wherein the patch is adapted to contract and be substantially shaped about the product upon activation;   wherein prior to shaping the patch about the product, the package has a shape and wherein the shape of the package is not substantially altered when the patch is shaped about the product.   
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 29  wherein the panels are adapted to flex with contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         31 . The package of  claim 29  wherein said sides remain substantially rigid in response to the contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         32 . The package of  claim 29  wherein the product is restrained from movement with respect to the package when said patch is in its contracted position. 
     
     
         33 . In combination, a carton and a moisture sealed insert:
 the carton being formed from a blank, the blank having an interior surface and an exterior surface, and including panels and end flaps along a first end and a second end, the blank comprising at least a first void in at least one of the panels;   the insert covering the first void and being adhered to the blank along adhesion positions on the interior surface of the blank, with the adhesion positions spaced from the first void a distance to enable the insert to contract substantially about a product upon activation of the insert; and   wherein the combination is not substantially altered in shape when the insert contracts.   
     
     
         34 . The combination of  claim 33  wherein said panels are adapted to flex with contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         35 . The combination of  claim 33  wherein said sides remain substantially rigid in response to the contraction of said patch about the product. 
     
     
         36 . The combination of  claim 33  wherein the product is restrained from movement with respect to the package when said patch is in its contracted position.