GB2351968A

GB2351968A - Reclosable carton

Info

Publication number: GB2351968A
Application number: GB9915914A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Wendon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-08
Filing date: 1999-07-08
Publication date: 2001-01-17
Also published as: GB9915914D0

Abstract

A reclosable carton for containing a liner 31 comprises front and rear panels 11,12 and side panels 14, the side panels 14 having locking flaps 18 which are removably engagable with a front or rear closure flap 16 when folded downwardly into the carton so as to trap an upper portion of the liner 31. The closure flap 16 may have a line of weakening to facilitate folding around the upper portion of the liner 31.

Description

2351968 Reclosable Canon This invention relates to a reclosable carton of

substantially rectangular configuration comprising front and rear panels and two side panels.

Generally such cartons comprise upper and lower flaps extending from the four panels, which flaps are folded at right angles to the panels and are adhesively secured one to another to provide upper and lower surfaces of a closed canon. Such cartons generally are provided with a closure devise comprising a tab on a flap extending from an upper portion of one of the front or rear panels and a slot in a tap extending from the other of the front or rear panels, the tab being receivable in the slot to effect reclosure of the carton after being opened.

Such cartons usually contain a moisture proof liner in the form of a bag and are widely used for cereals and other granular or particulate material. In an effort to keep the product fresh after opening the liner, the present cartons have printed instructions that the liner be pushed down to the level of material therein.

A disadvantage of such a closure is that, if the contents are not evenly distributed, the carton will tend to bulge and the tab will be withdrawn from the slot resulting in uncontrolled opening of the carton. A further disadvantage is that the closure is not intended to assist in providing a closure means for the inner bag and is therefore a poor and Misufficient way to keep the product fresh.

2 The invention is characterised in that both of the side panels are provided with locking flaps, which are adapted to be removably engagable with an adjacent adapted front or rear panel closure flap when folded downwardly into the carton, so as to trap an upper portion of the liner.

Since the liners opening mouth is retained in a closed substantially airtight condition the invention therefore provides a closure for a flexible inner liner which does not have the disadvantages referred to above.

Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect.

In the drawings:- Figure I is a plan view of a blank for forming into a carton in accordance with the present invention, Figures 2 to 4 inclusive are diagrammatic representations indicating stages in a procedure for effecting closure of the car-ton, Figure 5 is a cross section on the line V-V of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a partial plan view of a modified blank for forming into a carton in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 7 is view similar to Figure 5 of a carton formed from the blank shown in figure 6.

Referring to Figure I of the drawings, there is a carton blank 10 comprising two rectangular panels 11, 12 of equal area and two narrower elongate 3 rectangular panels 13, 14 also of equal area. One of the larger panels 12 is located between the two narrower panels 13, 14 and one of the narrower panels 13 is located between the two larger panels 11, 12. The larger panel I I which is not located between the two narrower panels 13, 14 is provided with a longitudinal tab 15. The panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are each provided with a corresponding upper flap 16, 17, 18 and 19 and a corresponding lower flap 20, 21, 22 and 23. One of the larger flaps 16 extending upwardly from panel I I is provided with two elongate notches 24, 25 'in opposite side edges resembling right angled scalene triangles. The narrower flaps 18, 19 extending upwardly from narrower panels 13, 14 are provided with a least one charnfered comer each 26 and 27.

The blank 10 is erected to form a carton by folding the panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 to form a rectangular configuration in plan view and the tab 15 is adhesively attached to an inner surface of the narrower panel 14.The flaps 20, 21, 22 and 23 are then folded towards one another and are secured one to other to form a base of the carton 30. A liner 31 in the form of a flexible container containing contents then is inserted into the carton and the flaps 16, 17 18 and 19 are folded towards one another, the flaps 16, 17 overlying the flaps 16, 17 are secured to one another by a peelable adhesive to enclose the liner and provide a top for the carton.

Referring now to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings, after the top of the carton 30 has been opened by peeling the flaps 16 and 17 one from another, at least some of the contents are poured from the liner, which remains in the carton. The liner 31 is reclosed by gripping together and folding downwardly upper portions of opposite walls of the liner 31 and the closure flap 16 as shown in Figure 2. The inward folding of the closure flap 16 causes the folded upper 4 portion of liner 31 to become trapped between closure flap 16 and front panel I I as shown in Figure 5. The side locking flaps 18 and 19 are then folded until the chamfered comers 26, 27 of locking flaps 18, 19 become engaged with the edges of notches 24, 25 of closure flap 16 as shown in Figure 3. The remaining flap 17 can now be folded inward through 90 degrees so as to be located parallel panel 12 and locked in position by locking flaps 18, 19.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, there is shown a modified blank 33 and a carton 34 formed therefrom. The blank 33 corresponds in all respects to the blank 10 except that the flap 16 is provided with a transverse line of weakening 35. The arrangement is such that, in use, the flap 16 is reverse folded on the line of weakening 35 so as to trap the neck of the liner 31 in a fold and ftirther enhance the efficacy of closure of the liner 3 1.

It will be appreciated that notches 24, 25 in securing flap 16 could be provided as an alternative in flap 17, or in addition to 16 and it will also be appreciated that chamfered comers 26, 27 can be provided as an alternative to the opposite comers of flaps 18, 19 or in addition to 26, 27. Likewise line of weakening 35 could be provided "in 17 in addition to 16 or as an alternative, without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will also be appreciated that, it is the dimensional relationship of notches 24, 25 in securing flap 16 and locking flaps 18, 19 that is important and that the shapes of these may need to be changed to meet the needs of certain carton sizes.

Furthermore it will be appreciated that it is only one shortened edge of, each of locking flaps (18,19) that needs to engage with notches (24, 25) to effect the closure. Therefore any alternative to a charnfered comer that would shorten the panel length, at least in part, would suffice.

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Claims

I -A reclosable carton (30) of substantially rectangular configuration for containing a liner (3 1), the carton (30) comprising front and rear panels (11, 12) and two side panels (13, 14) characterised in that both of the side panels ( 13, 14) are provided with locking flaps (18, 19), which are adapted to be removably engagable with an adjacent adapted front or rear panel closure flap (16, 17) when folded downwardly into the carton (30), so as to trap an upper portion of the liner (3 1).
2. A carton (30) as claimed in claim I characterised in that the front panel (11) and the rear panel (12) are each provided with a flap (16, 17).
3. A carton (30) as claimed in claim 2 characterised in that one or both flaps (16, 17) are provided with elongate notches (28, 29).
4. A carton (30) as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that notches (28, 29) are wedge shaped as a right angled scalene triangle.
5. A carton (30) as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims characterised in that the side panels(I 1, 12) are each provided with a flap (18, 19).
6. A carton (30) as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that both flaps (18, 19) are provided with a least one shortened edge (26, 27) to engage with notches (28, 29).

7. A carton (30) as claimed in any of the precedmig claims characterised in that both flaps (26, 27) are shaped to facilitate location in notches (28, 29).
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8. A carton (34) as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that the closure flap (16 and or 17) is provided with a line of weakening (3 5).
9. A blank for forming a carton as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

10-A carton of substantially rectangular configuration substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I I A blank for forming a carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure I in the accompanying drawings.