Carton ForArticles

Abstract

A carton assembly including an outer carton having a first plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton assembly, an inner holder positioned in the interior of the carton assembly and having a second plurality of panels extending at least partially around a container receiving space for at least partially receiving a serving container, a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels and in at least partial overlapping relation to form a closed bottom of the carton assembly, and an insulating gap between the inner holder and the outer carton in the interior of the carton assembly for providing insulation to the inner holder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carton assembly, the carton assembly comprising:
 an outer carton comprising a first plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton assembly;   an inner holder positioned in the interior of the carton assembly and comprising a second plurality of panels extending at least partially around a container receiving space for at least partially receiving a serving container;   a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels and in at least partial overlapping relation to form a closed bottom of the carton assembly; and   an insulating gap between the inner holder and the outer carton in the interior of the carton assembly for providing insulation to the inner holder.   
     
     
         2 . The carton assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         3 . The carton assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         4 . The carton assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first plurality of panels further comprises a lid panel and the carton assembly is reconfigurable between an open configuration, in which the lid panel is at least partially raised away from the remainder of the outer carton, and a closed configuration, in which the lid panel is positioned at least partially overlying the interior of the carton assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The carton assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the inner holder is attached to the outer carton. 
     
     
         6 . The carton assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the inner holder is at least partially spaced away from the closed bottom of the carton assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The carton assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the back panel of the inner holder is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the back panel of the outer carton. 
     
     
         8 . The carton assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the inner holder is foldably connected to the outer carton. 
     
     
         9 . The carton assembly of  claim 5 , wherein at least one spacing tab extends from a respective panel of the second plurality of panels to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels to at least partially form the insulating gap. 
     
     
         10 . The carton assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the front panel of the outer carton and a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the back panel of the outer carton, wherein the closed bottom of the carton assembly at least partially defines a recessed portion between the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap for at least partially receiving a heat source. 
     
     
         11 . The carton assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one side panel of the first plurality of panels comprises a first portion foldably connected to a second portion. 
     
     
         12 . The carton assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising locking features for at least partially maintaining the carton assembly in the closed configuration, the locking features comprising a locking tab extending from the lid panel and for being at least partially received in a locking opening at least partially defined between the front panel of the outer carton and at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps. 
     
     
         13 . At least one blank for forming a carton assembly, the at least one blank comprising:
 an outer carton portion comprising a first plurality of panels for extending at least partially around an interior of the carton assembly formed from the at least one blank, the outer carton portion of the at least one blank for forming an outer carton when the carton assembly is formed from the at least one blank;   an inner holder portion comprising a second plurality of panels for extending at least partially around a container receiving space for at least partially receiving a serving container when the carton assembly is formed from the at least one blank;   a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels and for being positioned in at least partial overlapping relation to form a closed bottom of the carton assembly formed from the at least one blank; and   the inner holder portion of the at least one blank for forming an inner holder positioned in the interior of the carton assembly formed from the at least one blank such that an insulating gap between the inner holder and the outer carton in the interior of the carton assembly is formed for providing insulation to the inner holder.   
     
     
         14 . The at least one blank of  claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         15 . The at least one blank of  claim 14 , wherein the second plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         16 . The at least one blank of  claim 15 , wherein the first plurality of panels further comprises a lid panel such that the carton assembly formed from the at least one blank is reconfigurable between an open configuration, in which the lid panel is at least partially raised away from the remainder of the outer carton when the carton assembly is formed from the at least one blank, and a closed configuration, in which the lid panel is positioned at least partially overlying the interior of the carton assembly formed from the at least one blank. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one blank of  claim 16 , wherein the inner holder portion is attached to the outer carton portion. 
     
     
         18 . The at least one blank of  claim 17 , wherein the inner holder portion is foldably connected to the outer carton portion. 
     
     
         19 . The at least one blank of  claim 17 , wherein at least one spacing tab extends from a respective panel of the second plurality of panels to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels for at least partially forming the insulating gap when the carton assembly is formed from the at least one blank. 
     
     
         20 . The at least one blank of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the front panel of the outer carton portion and a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the back panel of the outer carton portion, wherein the closed bottom of the carton assembly formed from the at least one blank is for being formed so as to least partially define a recessed portion between the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap for at least partially receiving a heat source. 
     
     
         21 . The at least one blank of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one side panel of the first plurality of panels comprises a first portion foldably connected to a second portion. 
     
     
         22 . The at least one blank of  claim 21 , further comprising locking features for at least partially maintaining the carton assembly formed from the at least one blank in the closed configuration, the locking features comprising a locking tab extending from the lid panel and for being at least partially received in a locking opening at least partially defined between the front panel of the outer carton and at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps when the carton assembly is formed from the at least one blank. 
     
     
         23 . The at least one blank of  claim 17 , in combination with at least one of a humidity control feature and a heat source. 
     
     
         24 . A method of forming a carton assembly, the method comprising:
 obtaining at least one blank, the at least one blank comprising an outer carton portion comprising a first plurality of panels, an inner holder portion comprising a second plurality of panels, and a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels;   positioning the first plurality of panels to form an outer carton of the carton assembly and such that the first plurality of panels extend at least partially around an interior of the carton assembly;   positioning the second plurality of panels to form an inner holder of the carton assembly at least partially in the interior of the carton assembly such that an insulating gap between the inner holder and the outer carton in the interior of the carton assembly is formed for providing insulation to the inner holder, the second plurality of panels extending at least partially around a container receiving space of the inner holder; and   at least partially overlapping the plurality of end flaps to form a closed bottom of the carton assembly.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the first plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first plurality of panels further comprises a lid panel such that the carton assembly is reconfigurable between an open configuration, in which the lid panel is at least partially raised away from the remainder of the outer carton, and a closed configuration, in which the lid panel is positioned at least partially overlying the interior of the carton assembly. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising attaching the inner holder to the outer carton. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising at least partially spacing the inner holder away from the closed bottom of the carton assembly. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising positioning the back panel of the inner holder in at least partial face-to-face contact with the back panel of the outer carton. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the inner holder portion is foldably connected to the outer carton portion. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein at least one spacing tab extends from a respective panel of the second plurality of panels to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels to at least partially form the insulating gap. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the front panel of the outer carton and a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the back panel of the outer carton, and the closed bottom of the carton assembly at least partially defines a recessed portion between the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap for at least partially receiving a heat source. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the at least one side panel of the first plurality of panels comprises a first portion foldably connected to a second portion. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one blank further comprises locking features for at least partially maintaining the carton assembly in the closed configuration, the locking features comprising a locking tab extending from the lid panel and for being at least partially received in a locking opening at least partially defined between the front panel of the outer carton and at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps. 
     
     
         36 . A system, the system comprising:
 a carton assembly, the carton assembly comprising:
 an outer carton comprising a first plurality of panels extending at least partially around an interior of the carton assembly; 
 an inner holder positioned in the interior of the carton assembly and comprising a second plurality of panels extending at least partially around a container receiving space for at least partially receiving a serving container; 
 a plurality of end flaps foldably connected to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels and in at least partial overlapping relation to form a closed bottom of the carton assembly; and 
 an insulating gap between the inner holder and the outer carton in the interior of the carton assembly for providing insulation to the inner holder; and 
 at least one of a humidity control feature and a heat source attached to the outer carton. 
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , comprising each of a humidity control feature and a heat source attached to the outer carton. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the first plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the second plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and at least one side panel. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the first plurality of panels further comprises a lid panel and the carton assembly is reconfigurable between an open configuration, in which the lid panel is at least partially raised away from the remainder of the outer carton, and a closed configuration, in which the lid panel is positioned at least partially overlying the interior of the carton assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the inner holder is attached to the outer carton. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the inner holder is at least partially spaced away from the closed bottom of the carton assembly. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the back panel of the inner holder is in at least partial face-to-face contact with the back panel of the outer carton. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the inner holder is foldably connected to the outer carton. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein at least one spacing tab extends from a respective panel of the second plurality of panels to a respective panel of the first plurality of panels to at least partially form the insulating gap. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of end flaps comprises a first bottom end flap foldably connected to the front panel of the outer carton and a second bottom end flap foldably connected to the back panel of the outer carton, wherein the closed bottom of the carton assembly at least partially defines a recessed portion between the first bottom end flap and the second bottom end flap for at least partially receiving a heat source. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the at least one side panel of the first plurality of panels comprises a first portion foldably connected to a second portion. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , further comprising locking features for at least partially maintaining the carton assembly in the closed configuration, the locking features comprising a locking tab extending from the lid panel and for being at least partially received in a locking opening at least partially defined between the front panel of the outer carton and at least one end flap of the plurality of end flaps.