Carton With Tray And Top Access Feature

Abstract

A package can include a tray that is inserted into the interior of a carton. The tray can have a tray bottom panel foldably connected to a first tray side panel and a second tray side panel. The carton can have a top access feature in a top panel to allow access to the containers and also expansion of the volume of the interior of the carton.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A package for holding a plurality of containers, comprising:
 a carton comprising a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton, the plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel; and   a tray for insertion into the interior of the carton, the tray comprises a tray bottom panel for supporting the plurality of containers, a first tray side panel foldably connected to the bottom tray panel, a second tray side panel foldably connected to the tray bottom panel, and liquid-tight features for at least partially preventing leakage from the package,   the carton comprises at least one access feature in the top panel of the carton for providing access to the interior of the carton.   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one access feature comprises at least one tear feature in the top panel of the carton. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one tear feature comprises a breachable line of disruption at least partially defining a plurality of access flaps in the top panel of the carton. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein the breachable line of disruption comprises a central portion and at least one oblique portion extending from an end of the central portion. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein the breachable line of disruption comprises a central portion and pairs of oblique portions extending from respective ends of the central portion. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the access flaps are each foldably connected to the top panel of the carton along a respective fold line. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the access flaps are folded upwardly relative to the top panel to at least partially form a compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the compartment is at least partially open to the interior of the carton. 
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the compartment expands an interior volume of the carton and allows ice to be supported at a location above the plurality of containers. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 9 , wherein one or more of the access flaps at least partially support the ice and are flexible for directing the ice and melted liquid onto the plurality of containers. 
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the tray comprises a first tray end panel and a second tray end panel foldably connected to the tray bottom panel, and a plurality of gussets connecting a respective one of the first tray side panel and the second tray side panel to a respective one of the first tray end panel and the second tray end panel. 
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of gussets comprises four gussets, each of the four gussets being at a respective corner of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . In combination, a carton blank and a tray blank for forming a package that holds a plurality of containers and comprises a carton and a tray,
 the carton blank for forming the carton, the carton blank comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel; and at least one access feature in the top panel; and   the tray blank for forming the tray, the tray blank comprises a tray bottom panel for supporting the plurality of containers, a first tray side panel foldably connected to the tray bottom panel, a second tray side panel foldably connected to the tray bottom panel, and features for forming liquid-tight features of the tray for at least partially preventing leakage of the package formed from the carton blank and the tray blank.   
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one access feature comprises at least one tear feature in the top panel of the carton. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one tear feature comprises a breachable line of disruption at least partially defining a plurality of access flaps in the top panel of the carton. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the breachable line of disruption comprises a central portion and at least one oblique portion extending from an end of the central portion. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the breachable line of disruption comprises a central portion and pairs of oblique portions extending from respective ends of the central portion. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 15 , wherein the access flaps are each foldably connected to the top panel along a respective fold line. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the tray blank comprises a first tray end panel and a second tray end panel foldably connected to the tray bottom panel, and a plurality of gussets connecting a respective one of the first tray side panel and the second tray side panel to a respective one of the first tray end panel and the second tray end panel. 
     
     
         20 . The combination of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of gussets comprises four gussets, each of the four gussets being at a respective corner of the tray. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a package for holding a plurality of containers, comprising:
 obtaining a carton blank that comprises a plurality of panels comprising a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel; and at least one access feature in the top panel;   obtaining a tray blank comprising a tray bottom panel for supporting a plurality of containers, the tray bottom panel is foldably connected to a first tray side panel and a second tray side panel and the tray blank comprises features for forming liquid-tight features for at least partially preventing leakage from the package formed from the carton blank and tray blank;   forming an interior of a carton at least partially defined by the plurality of panels, wherein the at least one access feature provides access to the interior of the carton; and   forming a tray at least partially defined by the tray bottom panel, the first tray side panel, and the second tray side panel; and   inserting the tray into the interior of the carton.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising expanding an interior volume of the carton. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising activating at least one tear feature in the top panel of the carton to at least partially separate a plurality of access flaps foldably connected to the top panel of the carton. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising positioning the plurality of access flaps to at least partially form a compartment that is at least partially open to the interior of the carton. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one tear feature comprises a breachable line of disruption at least partially defining the plurality of access flaps in the top panel of the carton. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the breachable line of disruption comprises a central portion and at least one oblique portion extending from an end of the central portion. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the breachable line of disruption comprises a central portion and pairs of oblique portions extending from respective ends of the central portion. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising folding the access flaps upwardly relative to the top panel to at least partially form the compartment. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising positioning ice in the compartment at a location above the plurality of containers. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein one or more of the access flaps at least partially support the ice and are flexible for directing the ice and melted liquid onto the plurality of containers.