Carton for articles

Abstract

A package comprising a carton and a plurality of articles. The carton can include a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The articles of the plurality of articles can be arranged in a plurality of rows of articles in the interior of the carton. The plurality of rows of articles can include at least a first row and a second row, the second row can be spaced apart from a panel of the plurality of panels by at least the first row, and the first row can include at least one more article than the second row.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package comprising a carton and a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
 a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton;   wherein the articles of the plurality of articles are arranged in a plurality of rows of articles in the interior of the carton, the plurality of rows of articles comprises at least a first row and a second row, the second row is spaced apart from a panel of the plurality of panels by at least the first row, and the first row comprises at least one more article than the second row.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the articles in the second row are nested with the articles in the first row. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the carton further comprises an at least partially closed end, the first row comprises a first end article disposed adjacent the at least partially closed end, and the second row comprises a second end article that is spaced apart from the at least partially closed end to at least partially define an interior space between the at least partially closed end and the second end article. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein at least the second end article of the second row is nested with the first end article and another article of the first row. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the carton further comprises a handle extending in at least the at least partially closed end, and the handle is at least partially aligned with the interior space. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the handle comprises a handle opening for providing access to the interior space from an exterior of the carton. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the at least partially closed end comprises a plurality of end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the plurality of end flaps being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another at the at least partially closed end. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of panels comprise at least a bottom panel, the at least two end flaps comprise at least a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel, and the handle extends in at least the bottom end flap. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rows of articles further comprises a third row and a fourth row, and the third row is spaced apart from the first row and the second row by at least the fourth row. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the third row comprises at least one more article than the fourth row. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 10 , wherein the articles in the second row are nested with at least the articles in the first row and the articles in the fourth row are nested with at least the articles in the third row. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of rows of articles further comprises a central row comprising at least one more article than the second row and the fourth row, the articles of each of the second row and the fourth row being nested with the articles of the central row. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the panel is a first panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second panel disposed generally opposite to the first panel, and the fourth row is spaced apart from the second panel by at least the third row. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein the carton further comprises an at least partially closed end, each of the first row and the third row comprises a first end article disposed adjacent the at least partially closed end, and each of the second row and the fourth row comprises a second end article that is spaced apart from the at least partially closed end to at least partially define an interior space between the at least partially closed end and the second end articles. 
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the carton further comprises a handle extending in at least the at least partially closed end, and the handle is at least partially aligned with the interior space. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rows of articles further comprises a third row that is spaced apart from the first row by at least the second row. 
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the articles in the second row are nested with at least the articles in the first row and the articles in the third row. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 16 , wherein the carton further comprises an at least partially closed end, at least the second row comprises an end article that is spaced apart from the at least partially closed end to at least partially define an interior space between the at least partially closed end and the second end article. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein each of the first row and the third row comprises a first end article disposed adjacent the at least partially closed end. 
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 18 , wherein the carton further comprises a handle extending in at least the at least partially closed end, and the handle is at least partially aligned with the interior space. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a package comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels;   obtaining a plurality of articles;   forming an interior of a carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels;   arranging the plurality of articles in a plurality of rows of articles in the interior of the carton, the plurality of rows of articles comprising at least a first row and a second row, wherein the arranging the plurality of articles comprises disposing at least one more article in the first row than in the second row and disposing the second row to be spaced apart from a panel of the plurality of panels by at least the first row.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the arranging the plurality of articles comprises nesting the articles in the second row with the articles in the first row. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising forming an at least partially closed end of the carton, wherein the arranging the plurality of articles further comprises disposing a first end article of the first row adjacent the closed and at least partially forming an interior space between the second row and the at least partially closed end by disposing a second end article of the second row to be spaced apart from the closed end. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the forming the at least partially closed end of the carton comprises at least partially aligning a handle in the at least partially closed end with the interior space. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of rows of articles further comprises a third row and a fourth row, and the arranging the plurality of articles further comprises disposing the third row and the fourth row so that the third row is spaced apart from the first row and the second row by at least the fourth row. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the arranging the plurality of articles comprises nesting the articles in the second row with at least the articles in the first row and nesting the articles in the fourth row with at least the articles in the third row. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the panel is a first panel, the plurality of panels further comprises a second panel, the forming the interior of the carton comprises disposing the second panel to be generally opposite to the first panel, and the arranging the plurality of articles further comprises disposing the fourth row to be spaced apart from the second panel by at least the third row. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising forming an at least partially closed end of the carton, wherein the arranging the plurality of articles further comprises disposing a first end article of the first row adjacent the closed and at least partially forming an interior space adjacent the at least partially closed end by disposing a second end article of the second row to be spaced apart from the closed end. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the forming the at least partially closed end of the carton comprises at least partially aligning a handle in the at least partially closed end with the interior space. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of rows of articles further comprises a third row and the arranging the plurality of articles further comprises disposing the third row to be spaced apart from the first row by at least the second row and nesting the articles in the second row with the articles in the first row and the articles in the third row. 
     
     
         31 . A carton for containing a plurality of articles, the carton comprising:
 a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising at least a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel;   at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two end flaps being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton, and the at least two end flaps comprising at least a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel;   a handle extending in at least the bottom end flap;   wherein the plurality of articles is for being disposed in the interior of the carton so that an interior space is formed between at least one article of the plurality of articles and at least a portion of the closed end of the carton, and the handle is for being at least partially aligned with the interior space.   
     
     
         32 . The carton of  claim 31 , wherein the handle is spaced apart from the top panel by a first distance and is spaced apart from the bottom panel by a second distance, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         33 . The carton of  claim 31 , wherein the handle comprises a handle flap foldably connected to the bottom end flap along a fold line. 
     
     
         34 . The carton of  claim 33 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a side end flap foldably connected to the side panel, the handle further comprising a cutout extending in the side end flap and at least partially aligned with the handle flap in the bottom end flap. 
     
     
         35 . The carton of  claim 34 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, and the handle flap comprises a first handle flap, the handle further comprising a second handle flap foldably connected to the top end flap, the first handle flap at least partially overlapping the second handle flap. 
     
     
         36 . The carton of  claim 31 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, and the handle comprises a first handle feature in the bottom end flap and a second handle feature in the top end flap, the first handle feature being at least partially aligned with the second handle feature. 
     
     
         37 . The carton of  claim 36 , wherein the first handle feature comprises a handle opening in the bottom end flap and a first handle flap foldably connected to the bottom end flap along a first fold line adjacent the handle opening, and the second handle feature comprises a second handle flap foldably connected to the top end flap adjacent a lowermost edge of the top end flap. 
     
     
         38 . The carton of  claim 31 , wherein the handle comprises a handle opening extending in the bottom end flap. 
     
     
         39 . The carton of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of articles are for being arranged in at least a first row and a second row in the interior of the carton, the first row is for having at least one more article than the second row, and the interior space is for being defined between the second row and the closed end. 
     
     
         40 . The carton of  claim 39 , wherein the articles of the plurality of articles for being arranged in the second row are for being nested with the articles of the plurality of articles for being arranged in the first row. 
     
     
         41 . A blank for forming a carton for containing a plurality of articles, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of panels comprising at least a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel;   at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two end flaps for being at least partially overlapped with respect to one another and thereby at least partially form a closed end of the carton formed from the blank, and the at least two end flaps comprising at least a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel;   handle features for forming a handle extending in at least the bottom end flap when the carton is formed from the blank;   wherein the plurality of articles is for being disposed in an interior of the carton formed from the blank so that an interior space is formed between at least one article of the plurality of articles and at least a portion of the closed end of the carton formed from the blank, and the handle is for being at least partially aligned with the interior space when the carton is formed from the blank.   
     
     
         42 . The blank of  claim 41 , wherein the handle features comprise a handle flap foldably connected to the bottom end flap along a fold line. 
     
     
         43 . The blank of  claim 42 , wherein the bottom end flap is foldably connected to the bottom panel along a fold line, the bottom end flap comprises a free edge disposed opposite to the fold line, and the handle flap is spaced apart from the fold line and the free edge in the bottom end flap. 
     
     
         44 . The blank of  claim 42 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a side end flap foldably connected to the side panel, the handle features further comprising a cutout extending in the side end flap, and the cutout is for being at least partially aligned with the handle flap in the bottom end flap when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         45 . The blank of  claim 44 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, and the handle flap comprises a first handle flap, the handle features further comprising a second handle flap foldably connected to the top end flap, the first handle flap being for at least partially overlapping the second handle flap when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         46 . The blank of  claim 41 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, the handle features comprise a first handle feature in the bottom end flap and a second handle feature in the top end flap, and the first handle feature is for being at least partially aligned with the second handle feature when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         47 . The blank of  claim 46 , wherein the first handle feature comprises a handle opening in the bottom end flap and a first handle flap foldably connected to the bottom end flap along a first fold line adjacent the handle opening, and the second handle feature comprises a second handle flap foldably connected to the top end flap adjacent a lowermost edge of the top end flap. 
     
     
         48 . The blank of  claim 41 , wherein the handle features comprise a handle opening extending in the bottom end flap. 
     
     
         49 . The blank of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of articles are for being arranged in at least a first row and a second row in the interior of the carton formed from the blank, the first row is for having at least one more article than the second row, and the interior space is for being defined between the second row and the closed end when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         50 . The blank of  claim 49 , wherein the articles of the plurality of articles for being arranged in the second row are for being nested with the articles of the plurality of articles for being arranged in the first row when the carton is formed from the blank. 
     
     
         51 . A method for forming a package comprising a carton holding a plurality of articles, the method comprising:
 obtaining a blank comprising a plurality of panels comprising at least a bottom panel, a top panel, and a side panel, at least two end flaps respectively foldably attached to respective panels of the plurality of panels, the at least two end flaps comprising at least a bottom end flap foldably connected to the bottom panel, and handle features extending in at least the bottom end flap;   forming an interior of the carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels;   inserting the plurality of articles into the interior of the carton;   at least partially overlapping the at least two end flaps with respect to one another to at least partially form a closed end of the carton, wherein the inserting the plurality of articles comprises arranging the plurality of articles to form an interior space between at least one article of the plurality of articles and the closed end; and   forming a handle in the closed end from the handle features, the handle being at least partially aligned with the interior space.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the forming the handle comprises positioning the handle features so that the handle is spaced apart from the top panel by a first distance and is spaced apart from the bottom panel a second distance, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a top end flap foldably connected to the top panel, the handle features comprise a first handle feature in the bottom end flap and a second handle feature in the top end flap, and the forming the handle comprising at least partially overlapping the first handle feature and the second handle feature. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the at least two end flaps further comprise a side end flap foldably connected to the side panel, the handle features further comprise a cutout in the side end flap, and the forming the handle further comprises at least partially aligning the first handle feature and the second handle feature with the cutout. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the arranging the plurality of articles comprises disposing the articles of the plurality of articles in at least a first row and a second row in the interior of the carton so that the first row comprises at least one more article than the second row, the interior space being defined between the second row and the closed end. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the disposing the articles of the plurality of articles in the first row and the second row comprises nesting the articles of the second row with the articles of the first row.