Carton for product and literature insert

Abstract

An apparatus and method provides a carton having a ramp or holding portion that holds a literature insert against two adjacent side panels of the carton to permit filling of the carton with a product. A folded literature insert may be folded fewer times so as to be thinner and provide more room for the product in the carton. The ramp or holding portion is shaped to hold the insert in position during automated filing of the carton. The ramp has first and second ramp portions folded on one another, a step extending over an edge of the insert, a landing on the insert, and an edge of the ramp that presses the insert against an adjoining side panel of the carton. The holding portion includes first and second legs extending form an assembly flap and having an end tab for attachment to a side panel

We claim: 
     
         1 . A blank configured for forming a carton when assembled, the carton being configured for enclosing a product and a literature insert, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of side panels connected to form sides of the carton when assembled, the plurality of side panels including two adjoining side panels connected to one another by a fold line, the two adjoining side panels having a literature mounting portion on both of the two adjoining side panels, the literature mounting portion extending over the fold line connecting the two adjoining side panels, the literature mounting portion being configured for receiving the literature insert in a position with the literature insert on both of the two adjoining side panels and with a fold of the literature insert aligned with and on the fold line connecting the two adjoining side panels; and   a holding portion configured for holding the literature insert at the literature mounting portion when assembled.   
     
     
         2 . A blank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the holding portion includes a ramp extending from the one of the two adjoining side panels, the ramp being configured to provide a first portion extending from an end of the assembled carton and a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion being configured to extend into an interior of the carton and to overlie an edge of the literature insert. 
     
     
         3 . A blank as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the ramp includes an edge of the ramp configured for extending along the fold of the literature insert when the literature insert is mounted with the fold of the literature insert aligned with and on the fold line connecting the two adjoining side panels. 
     
     
         4 . A blank as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the carton includes opposite side panels opposite respective ones of the two adjoining side panels;
 wherein the holding portion extends into an interior of the carton from the opposite side panels and toward the two adjoining side panels when assembled.   
     
     
         5 . A blank as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the holding portion extends toward the literature mounting portion on the two adjoining side panels. 
     
     
         6 . A blank as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the two adjoining side panels having the literature mounting portion are second and third side panels connected in series in the blank;
 wherein the opposite side panels are first and fourth side panels connected in series in the blank.   
     
     
         7 . A blank as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an assembly flap extending from a side of the fourth side panel and configured for attachment to the first side panel;   wherein the holding portion includes a first leg extending from the assembly flap and a second leg extending from the first leg;   an end tab connected to the second leg, the end tab being configured for attachment to the first side panel when assembled.   
     
     
         8 . A blank as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the assembly flap includes a cutout notch. 
     
     
         9 . A blank as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a plurality of bottom flaps extending from the plurality of side panels;   wherein the second leg includes a downwardly extending tab configured to selectively engage one of the plurality of bottom flaps.   
     
     
         10 . A blank as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the one of the plurality of the bottom flaps includes an extending tab that is configured to selectively engage the downwardly extending tab of the second leg. 
     
     
         11 . A blank as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of bottom flaps are configured for folding into an interior of the carton in a flattened condition; and
 wherein the first leg and a portion of the second leg have a lower edge configured to clear the folded bottom flaps in the flattened condition.   
     
     
         12 . A blank as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second leg includes an opening. 
     
     
         13 . A blank as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the end tab includes a tap extending into the opening in the second leg. 
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a carton, comprising:
 forming a blank having a plurality of side panels connected in series, two adjoining ones of the plurality of side panels defining a literature insert mounting location, the blank including a holding portion configured for holding a literature insert at the literature insert mounting location when assembled;   affixing a literature insert at the literature insert mounting location, the literature insert being disposed on both of the two adjoining side panels; and   holding the literature insert at the literature insert mounting location with the holding portion, the holding portion holding the literature insert out of the way during insertion of a product into the carton.   
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the holding includes abutting an edge of a ramp of the holding portion against a fold of the literature insert that is aligned and on a fold adjoining the two adjoining side panels. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14 . wherein the holding includes:
 extending a first leg from an assembly flap at a side edge of one of the side panels into an interior of the carton;   extending a second leg from the first leg to another of the side panels; and   affixing an end tap that is connected to the second leg onto the another of the side panels.   
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 folding bottom flaps of the carton into an interior of the carton in a flattened state; and   engaging a tab on one of the bottom flaps with a tab on the second leg.   
     
     
         18 . A continuous blank configured for forming a carton adapted for enclosing a product and a literature insert, comprising:
 a plurality of side panels connected to form sides of a carton when the carton is assembled, each of the plurality of side panels having a first end at a first end of the carton, the plurality of side panels including first and second adjoining side panels, the first and second adjoining side panels being configured for receiving the literature insert inside the carton in a position against both of the first and second adjoining side panels;   an end cover extending from the first end of the first adjoining side panel, the end cover being configured for fastening in a closed position closing the first end of the carton;   a ramp extending from the first end of the second adjoining side panel, the ramp including:
 a first ramp portion connected to the second adjoining side panel, 
 a second ramp portion connected to the first ramp portion, and 
 a landing portion connected to the second ramp portion, 
 the ramp being selectively configured in a product loading position of the assembled carton with the first and second ramp portions overlying one another and extending from the first end of the carton, the landing portion disposed on a first portion of the literature insert in the product loading position, the first portion of the literature insert being positioned against the second adjoining side panel, the landing portion including an edge pressing against a second portion of the literature insert in the product loading position, the second portion of the literature insert being against the first adjoining side panel; 
 the ramp being selectively configured in a closed position of the assembled carton with the first and second ramp portions overlying one another and the landing portion disposed on the first portion of the literature insert and the edge pressing against the second portion of the literature insert. 
   
     
     
         19 . The continuous blank as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an adhesive on at least one of the first and second adjoining side panels, the adhesive being configured for attaching the literature insert to the at least one of the first and second adjoining side panels, the adhesive being of a type that releases the literature insert from adhesion to the respective side panel without fiber tearing of the literature insert.   
     
     
         20 . The continuous blank as claimed in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 end flaps being configured to be adhesively glued to one another to provide automatic locking of the carton bottom flaps as the carton is erected from a flattened state to a rectangular shape.