AU2010201598B2 - A carton for bottles and blank therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a carton and blank for packaging bottles such as wine bottles. The carton having 5 an outer housing made from one blank and inner assembly made from a second blank. The housing having one or more opening in a side wall and the inner assembly having openable panels align with each opening that can be moved between open and closed positions. A storage space for a 10 bottle is located in the housing adjacent to each openable panel. 22456981 (GHMatters) 20I4/10 Figure 1 g 3 3-.3 41 '31

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant: AMCOR LIMITED Invention Title: A CARTON FOR BOTTLES AND BLANK THEREFOR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: - 2 A CARTON FOR BOTTLES AND A BLANK THEREFOR 5 FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton and a blank for making the carton. The carton is adapted for packaging one or more bottles such as, but by no mean limited to 10 wine bottles. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION There are present a large number of different types of 15 cartons on the market for carrying and storing bottles such as 6 packs that are commonly used for glass bottles. The 6 pack carton usually includes an external base and side walls, and an internal longitudinal divider having an integral handle and a series of lateral dividers that 20 define separate compartments for the bottles. Each compartment is free of a top wall so that the bottles can be conveniently removed from the carton. A 6 pack carton is particularly suited for mini sized bottles in the range of 300 to 400ml. 25 Larger bottles, such as 750ml wine bottles, are typically stored and carried in boxes containing one dozen bottles. The boxes usually include a side wall and 4 flaps at the top and bottom that fold inwardly to form top and bottom 30 walls. A separate internal divider may be inserted into the box to define compartments for the bottles. It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate carton and blank that may be used for bottles of 35 any size. 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10 - 3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a carton for packaging at least one bottle such as a wine bottle, the carton 5 including: a housing having a base, a top wall, and a side wall, wherein the side wall defines one or more opening into the housing; and an assembly having an openable panel at each opening 10 of the housing, and each openable panel is hinged to a lower portion of the housing so that the openable panel can be pivoted to open and close the respective opening, and wherein a storage space for receiving a bottle is 15 provided inside the housing adjacent to each openable panel, and when the openable panel is pivoted into an opened position the respective opening and openable panel provides an upwardly facing entrance to the storage space and a bottle can be loaded and stored in the storage space 20 in an upward orientation, and wherein the housing and the assembly are formed from separate blanks. In an embodiment, the assembly includes an inner structure that locates a bottle in the storage space and supports 25 the bottle relative to the openable panel so that when the openable panels is pivoted, the bottle can move with the openable panel and remains in a substantially upward orientation. Moreover, in the situation in which the carton includes 2 or more bottles, the inner structure 30 provides a partition between the bottles so as to prevent direct contact between the bottles. In an embodiment, the inner structure locates a bottle against an inside face of the openable panel so that: i) 35 when the openable panel is in a closed position and the carton is being viewed in an upright orientation, the bottle is located in a substantially upright/vertical orientation, and ii) when the openable panel is in an 65827341 (GHMatters) P83493.AU NIOUSHAA 11/06/15 opened position, the bottle is located at an upwardly facing orientation at an angle to the upright. In an embodiment, the inner structure includes spaced 5 apart sub-side walls extending inwardly of the openable panel, and an inner wall spanning between the sub-side walls so that the openable panel, sub-side walls and inner wall can extend around a bottle located in the inner structure. 10 In an embodiment, the housing is an outer housing and the assembly is an inner assembly that includes a fixing panel that is attached to an inside face of the base of the outer housing. The openable panel may be located inside 15 or outside the housing when in a closed position. In an embodiment, the inner structure (of the assembly) includes a limb having an abutment surface protruding from the limb, and a co-operating aperture through which the 20 limb slides when the openable panel is pivoted between the opened and closed positions, the abutment surface engages an edge of the co-operating aperture when the openable panel is pivoted to the opened position which prevents the openable panel for pivoting beyond the opened position. 25 In an embodiment, the limb extends upwardly from the base of the housing and the co-operating aperture is located in either one or both of the sub-side walls or the inner wall. 30 The features of two alternate embodiments that prevent the openable panel from opening beyond the opened position will now be described. In one embodiment, the inner structure includes: a) a pair of the limbs that extend 35 from opposite sides of the fixing panel that in use extend upwardly, and b) two of the co-operating apertures are formed in the sub-side walls of the assembly. 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10 - 5 In an alternative embodiment, the limb and abutment surface are in the form of a T-shaped flap in which the base of the T-shape is attached to the fixing panel at a 5 point that is substantially in alignment with the inner wall of the inner structure and the aperture is provided in the inner wall. Suitably, the aperture is in the form of cut out having a narrow section through which the limb of the T-shape can slide and a broader section through 10 which the abutment surface of the T-shape and be manipulated during initial erection of the carton. In an embodiment, the carton includes a closure that interconnects the openable panel to the top and/or side 15 wall. Suitably, the closure is in the form of tab that extends from the top and/or side wall that is received by a co-operating closure opening in the openable panel. Even more suitably, the tab includes a first portion that is hinged to the top wall and/or side wall and a second 20 portion that, when the openable panel is located in a closed position, is received by and engages the co operating closure opening so as to secure the openable panel in a closed position. When in use, the second portion is suitably folded lateral to the first portion. 25 In an embodiment, the housing and assembly are formed from separate blanks. In an embodiment, the side wall of the housing includes 2 30 openings, each having one of the openenable panels that forms said upwardly facing entrance with the respective opening when moved into an opened position. Suitably, the 2 openings are oppositely disposed at ends of the carton, and even more suitably the side wall has four faces that 35 form a quadrilateral about the base wall, of which two of the faces are in the form of the openings. The other 2 faces may be in the form of side wall panels. 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10 - 6 In the situation in which the housing includes 2 openings, suitably the housing and assembly are erected separately and, thereafter, the inner structure of the erected 5 assembly is positioned in the housing so that the openable panels align with the openings of the housing. In an embodiment, the side wall of the housing includes 3 openings, and suitably the openings are evenly spaced 10 about the side wall of housing. Even more suitably, the side wall of the housing has 6 faces that form a hexagon about the base wall, of which three of the faces are in the form of the openings. The other 3 faces may be in the form of fixed panels. 15 In the situation in which the housing 3 openings, the inner structure of the assembly is attached to the base wall of the housing, and the housing is then subsequently erected about the assembly. The assembly may be erected 20 prior to, or after, it is attached to the base wall of the housing. The assembly may be attached to the base of the housing using any suitable means including gluing. The openings defined by the side walls may be of 25 substantially the same area, and suitably of substantially the same height and width, or alternatively the openings may be of different or uneven area to cater for bottles of different sizes. It is possible that the openings may be different size to cater for bottles of different sizes in 30 the one carton. The present invention also relates to a set of blanks for making a carton for packaging at least one bottle, the set including: 35 a first blank that can be folded into a housing having a base, a top wall, and a side wall, wherein the side wall defines at least one opening into the housing; 22456981 (GHMatters) 20104/10 -7 and a second blank that can be folded into an assembly having an openable panel at each opening, and the second blank is able to be attached to the housing of the first 5 blank so that the openable panel is hinged to a lower portion of the housing and that the openable panel can be pivoted to open and close the respective opening, and wherein a storage space for receiving a bottle can 10 be provided inside the housing adjacent to each openable panel, and when the openable panel is pivoted into an opened position the respective opening and openable panel provides an upwardly facing entrance to the storage space and a bottle can be loaded and stored in the storage space is in an upward orientation. The set of blanks may also include any one or a combination of the other features described herein. 20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred 25 embodiment of a carton, the carton having two openable panels that are located in an opened position; Figure 2 is a first blank for making an outer housing of the carton shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a second blank for making an inner 30 assembly including the openable panels of the carton shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a photograph showing a perspective view of the carton shown in Figure 1 containing two wine bottles; 35 Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative preferred embodiment of a carton, the carton having three openable panels that are located in an opened position; 22456981 (GHMatters) 20J04110 - 8 Figure 6 is a first blank for making an outer housing of the carton shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a second blank for making an inner assembly including the three openable panels shown in s Figure 1; Figure 8 is a photograph showing a portion of the inside of the carton shown in Figure 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION 10 Two preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures. The preferred embodiments have a number of the features that are same or substantially similar and as a matter of convenience the 15 same reference numerals have been used to identify the same or substantially the same features in both embodiments. Figures 1 and 4 illustrate an embodiment of a carton for 20 two bottles and Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a pair of blanks for making the two bottle carton. In particular, Figure 2 illustrates a first blank comprising a line of flaps and panels interconnected by fold lines 15 including a central top wall panel 12, a pair of equally sides wall 25 panels 11, a base wall flap 10, and a gluing flap 13. Extending along double creased fold lines from each of the upper and lower edges of the base wall flap 10, side wall panels 11 and top wall panel are reinforcing flaps 20. The blank is erected by the folding the fold lines 15 so 30 as to form a rectangular outer housing, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and gluing flap 13 is attached to base wall flap 10 using an suitable adhesive. The erected outer housing defines two oppositely disposed openings at end of the outer housing. Each opening extends between 35 the top and base walls 10, 12 and between each side wall panels 11. The upper and lower reinforcing flaps 20 are folded inwardly and glued using suitable adhesive to 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10 - 9 reinforce each opening. Extending from an upper edge of the outer housing is a closure comprising a first portion 21 pivotally joined by 5 a fold line to the top wall panel 12 and a second portion 22 that can be folded laterally or perpendicularly to the first portion 21. The second portion 22 is received by an opening 36 of the openable panel 31 for locking the openable panel 31 in a closed position. 10 Figure 3 illustrates a second blank having a central fixing panel 30 which is flanked by openable panels 31 and joined thereto by fold lines 37. Extending from upper and lower edges of the openable panels 31 are sub-side wall 15 panels 32 that can be fold laterally to the openable panels 31. Gluing flaps 34 extend from the lower edges of the sub-side wall flaps 32 and inner wall flaps 33 extend from upper edges of the sub-side walls 32. Fillets or apertures 38 of a specific shape are also cut from each of 20 the sub-side wall panels 32. The apertures 38 receive curved shaped arms 39 when erected. Each arm 39 has an abutment portion 40 that is angled to engage an edge of the apertures 38. To erect the second blank, the openable panels 31 are folded toward each other by folding at 25 folding line 37 and the sub-side walls 32 folded inwardly along fold lines 41. Gluing flap 34 and inner wall flaps 33 can then be attached by gluing to form inner walls to form two separate storage spaces. The sub-side walls 32, inner wall and the openable panels 31 form two inner 30 structures that the pivotally mounted to the base wall panel along fold line 37. The inner structures are sized so that a standard 750ml bottle can snugly fit between the openable panel 31, sub-side walls 32 and inner wall. Moreover, the inner structure serves as a partition for 35 separating bottles received by the inner structures and holds the bottles to the openable panels 31. Finally, the arms 39 are folded upwardly from the fixing panel 30 and 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10 - 10 deformed so as to that the abutment portions 40 pass through the apertures 38. Once erected, the second blank is then placed inside the s outer housing. The base wall panel 30 of the second blank and the base wall 12 of the first blank are overlaid and glued such that the openable panels 31 are in effect pivotally mounted to a lower edge of the end openings of the outer housing. The arms 39 and the abutment portions 10 40 are sized so the openable panels 31 can only be opened by a predetermined angle at which the abutment portions 40 engage on the edge of apertures 38, and thereby stops the openable panels 31 from pivoting downwardly beyond the opened position. 15 The sub-side walls 32, inner wall 33 and an inside face of the openable panel 31 form storages spaces for the wine bottles. Figure 4 illustrates the situation in which two wine bottles have been located in each of the storage 20 spaces and the openable panels 31 pivoted into an opened position. The wine bottles snugly supported in the inner structure, are supported at an inclined orientation when in an opened position. When the openable panel 31 is located in the closed position, the wine bottles will be 25 oriented substantially vertically. Figures 5 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of a carton for three bottles and Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a pair of blanks for making the three bottle carton. In 30 particular, Figure 6 illustrates a first blank for making the outer housing of the carton. The first blank comprises a central hexagonal base panel 30 having three major sides and three minor sides. Extending via fold lines from the three major sides are side wall panels 31. 35 Reinforcing flaps 20 extend from upper and lower edges of the side wall panels 31. Reinforcing flaps 20 also extend from the minor sides of the base panel 30 along fold lines 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04110 - 11 47. A top wall flap 12 extends from a fold line of one of the side wall panels 31. The top wall flap 12 is substantially the same size as the base panel 30 and includes the same three major and minor sides. Closure 5 flaps comprising and first portion 21 joined to the top wall 21 along a fold line and a second portion 22 can be folded laterally to the first portion 21. Interlocking formations 48 extend from outer ends of other 10 two side wall panels 31. Figure 7 illustrates a second blank for making the inner assembly including the openable panels of the carton. The second blank includes a central hexagon base panel 30 15 having three major and three minor sides. Extending from each of the minor sides of the base panel 30 are panels and flaps for forming movable storage spaces/ compartments. Flaps and panels for forming the storage compartments include openable panels 31 joined to the 20 minor side of the base panel 30. Flanked on either side of the openable panels 31 are sub-side walls 32 that are joined thereto by fold lines 41. A gluing flap 34 and inner wall flap 33 extend from the sub-side walls 32 that each form storage compartments. A tab 35 also extends 25 from an outer most edge of the openable panel 31 and a locking slot for receiving the second portion 22 of the closure of the first blank is also provided. The inside face of the base panel 30 includes three 30 stopping devices for stopping the openable panel from pivoting beyond an opened position. Specifically, the stopping device includes three T-shaped members comprising a limb 39 and a head abutment portion 40. A co-operating aperture 38 is cut into the inner wall 33. 35 The carton in Figure 5 can be erected by folding the sub side walls 32 of the second blank laterally to the 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10 - 12 openable panel 31 and interconnecting the gluing flap 34 to inner wall flap 33, thereby forming three separate inner structures, each adapted for receiving a wine bottle. Each of the inner structures can then be folded 5 upwardly about fold line 37 and the head portions 40 of the stopping device deformed and inserted in the cut out apertures 38. The base panel 30 is then overlaid on the base wall panel 10 of the first blank with the major sides of the base panel 30 aligning with the major sides of the 10 base wall panel 10 and, similarly, the minor panels of the two bases aligned. When the major and minor sides are aligned, the side walls 31 of the first blank can be folded upward and the interlocking formations 48 and top wall panel 12 glued in position. Suitably, the 15 reinforcing flaps 20 may be folded inwardly and glued in position for reinforcing the openings about the carton. Figure 5 illustrates the carton in which the openable panels have been hinged to an open position. 20 Figure 8 is a photograph of an inside view of the carton shown in Figure 5. More particularly, the relative positions of the head abutment portions 40 to the cut out apertures 38 of the right hand inner structure indicates that the storage compartment is in a closed position, 25 whereas in comparison, the inner structure on the left hand side shows the abutment head 40 engaging an edge of the apertures 38 so as to prevent the openable panel 31 thereof from hinging beyond the opened position. 30 Those skilled in the art of the present invention will appreciate that many modifications and variations may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 35 For instance, the two preferred embodiments of a carton described herein are specifically sized and shaped for containing 750ml wine bottles. However, it will be 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10 - 13 appreciated that other embodiments of different sizes and for different sized bottles may be ready made using the principles of the present invention. 5 In another example, the carton may be fitted with a carrying handle and have aesthetically pleasing artwork or marketing material on the outside of the housing or openable panel. 10 22456981 (GHMatters) 20/04/10

Claims (20)

1. A carton for packaging at least one bottle such as a wine bottle, the carton including: 5 a housing having a base, a top wall, and a side wall, wherein the side wall defines one or more opening into the housing; and an assembly having an openable panel at each opening of the housing, and each openable panel is hinged to a 10 lower portion of the housing so that the openable panel can be pivoted to open and close the respective opening, and wherein a storage space for receiving a bottle is provided inside the housing adjacent to each openable 15 panel, and when the openable panel is pivoted into an opened position the respective opening and openable panel provides an upwardly facing entrance to the storage space and a bottle can be loaded and stored in the storage space in an upward orientation, and wherein the housing and the 20 assembly are formed from separate blanks.

2. The carton according to claim 1, wherein the assembly includes an inner structure that locates a bottle in the storage space and supports the bottle relative to the 25 openable panel so that when the openable panels is pivoted, the bottle can move with the openable panel and remains in an upward orientation.

3. The carton according to claim 2, wherein the inner 30 structure locates a bottle against an inside face of the openable panel so that: i) when the openable panel is in a closed position and the carton is being viewed in an upright orientation, the bottle is located in a substantially upright/vertical orientation, and ii) when 35 the openable panel is in an opened position, the bottle is located at an upwardly facing orientation at an angle to the upright. 65827341 (GHMatters) P83493.AU NIOUSHAA 11/06/15 - 15

4. The carton according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner structure includes spaced apart sub-side walls extending inwardly of the openable panel, and an inner wall spanning 5 between the sub-side walls so that the openable panel, sub-side walls and inner wall can extend around a bottle located in the inner structure.

5. The carton according to claim any one of claims 2 to 4, 10 wherein the inner structure includes a limb having an abutment surface protruding from the limb, and a co operating aperture through which the limb slides when the openable panel is pivoted between the opened and closed positions, the abutment surface engages an edge of the co 15 operating aperture when the openable panel is pivoted to the opened position which prevents the openable panel for pivoting beyond the opened position.

6. The carton according to claim 5, wherein the limb 20 extends upwardly from the base of the housing and the co operating aperture is located in either one or both of the sub-side walls or the inner wall.

7. The carton according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the inner 25 structure includes: a) a pair of the limbs that extend from opposite sides of the fixing panel that in use extend upwardly, and b) two of the co-operating apertures are formed in the sub-side walls of the assembly. 30

8. The carton according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the limb and abutment surface are in the form of a T-shaped flap in which the base of the T-shape is attached to the fixing panel at a point that is substantially in alignment with the inner wall of the inner structure and the aperture is 35 provided in the inner wall. 65827341 (GHMatters) P83493.AU NIOUSHAA 11/06/15 - 16

9. The carton according to claim 8, wherein the aperture is in the form of cut out having a narrow section through which the limb of the T-shape can slide and a broader 5 section through which the abutment surface of the T-shape and be manipulated during initial erection of the carton.

10. The carton according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the housing and assembly are separately erected 10 and, thereafter, the inner structure of the assembly is positioned in the housing so that the openable panels align with the openings of the housing.

11. The carton according to any one of claims 2 to 9, 15 wherein the inner structure of the assembly is attached to the base wall of the housing, and the housing is then subsequently erected about the assembly.

12. The carton according to claim any one of claims 1 to 20 10, wherein the carton includes a closure that interconnects the openable panel to the top and/or side wall.

13. The carton according to claim 10, wherein the closure 25 is in the form of tab that extends from the top and/or side wall that is received by a co-operating closure opening in the openable panel.

14. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 11, 30 wherein the housing is an outer housing and the assembly is an inner assembly that includes a fixing panel that is attached to an inside face of the base of the outer housing. 35

15. The carton according to claim any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the side wall of the housing includes 2 openings that are oppositely disposed at ends of the 65827341 (GHMatters) P83493.AU NIOUSHAA 11/06/15 - 17 carton, each having one of the openenable panels that forms said upwardly facing entrance with the respective opening when moved into an opened position. 5

16. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the side wall of the housing includes 3 openings that are evenly spaced about the side wall of housing.

17. The carton according to claim any one of claims 1 to 10 12, wherein the side wall of the housing has six faces that form a hexagon about the base wall, and three of the faces are in the form of the openings.

18. The carton according to any one of claims 1 to 17, 15 wherein the side wall defines multiple openings that have the same height and width.

19.A set of blanks for making a carton for packaging at least one bottle, the set including: 20 a first blank that can be folded into a housing having a base, a top wall, and a side wall, wherein the side wall defines at least one opening into the housing; and a second blank that can be folded into an assembly 25 having an openable panel at each opening, and the second blank is able to be attached to the housing of the first blank so that the openable panel is hinged to a lower portion of the housing and that the openable panel can be pivoted to open and close the respective opening, and 30 wherein a storage space for receiving a bottle can be provided inside the housing adjacent to each openable panel, and when the openable panel is pivoted into an opened position the respective opening and openable panel provides an upwardly facing entrance to the storage space 35 and a bottle can be loaded and stored in the storage space in an upward orientation. 65827341 (GHMatters) P83493.AU NIOUSHAA 11/06/15 - 18

20. A carton for packaging a bottle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures. 65827341 (GHMatters) P83493.AU NIOUSHAA 11/06/15