AU2012203518A1 - Carton lid - Google Patents

Abstract

C \NRPonbl\DCC\MAG\44 I 161_ I DOC- 15/(9/2112 A container lid having side panels and top panels, the top panels including folding gusset members at each end which are configured to fold against opposed side walls to hold the 5 top panels closed, the gusset members in use being held against the opposed side panels by engagement with a carton closed by the lid. C'4I 41 -4 8 Gofa vAi

Description

P/00/0II Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT (ORIGINAL) Name of Applicant: Visy R & D Pty Ltd, of Level 11, 2 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, Victoria 3006, Australia Actual Inventor: Russell SYTSMA Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent & Trademark Attorneys, of 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, 3000, Victoria, Australia Ph: 03 9254 2777 Fax: 03 9254 2770 Attorney Code: DM Invention Title: "Carton lid" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: C \NRPonbl\)CC\RJC\4401126 DOC - 15/6/12 C:\NRPonbl\DCC\RJC\44Il 161 I.DOC-15/06/2012 CARTON LID Field of Invention 5 This invention relates to improvements in carton lids. Background of Invention Carton lids which are separately assembled and applied to a carton after filling are usually 10 taped or stapled to maintain the assembled condition. This increases the labour required for assembly and disassembly prior to recycling. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved carton lid which is held in the assembled condition when applied to the carton and is easily knocked-down flat for 15 recycling. It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the above mentioned difficulties, or at least provide a useful alternative. 20 Summary of Invention A container lid having side panels and top panels, the top panels including folding gusset members at each end which are configured to fold against opposed side walls to hold the top panels closed, the gusset members in use being held against the opposed side panels by 25 engagement with a carton closed by the lid The invention provides a carton lid having side panels and top panels, the top panels including folding gusset members at each end which are configured to fold against opposed side walls to hold the top panels closed, the gusset members in use being held 30 against the opposed side panels by engagement with a carton closed by the lid.

CXNRPonNDCC\RJC\440116_1 lDOC15/6/2012 -2 In one form, the gusset members are defined by angular cut-crease lines extending from corners of the opposed side panels to an edge of the gusset members, the cut-crease lines operating to snap the gusset members towards the opposed side panels as assembly of the lid is completed. 5 The lid is preferably formed from a blank which is glued to form a flattened sleeve, the side panels and top panels being defined by fold lines, and the gusset members being defined by the angular cut-crease lines defined above. The blank is glued across the whole width of the blank and is easily erected into an open topped rectangular sleeve formation. 10 The lid is formed by forcing the gusset members to fold along the cut-crease lines to draw the top panels towards their closed positions. As the gusset members approach the opposed side walls of the lid, the cut-crease lines tend to snap the gusset members towards the opposed side panels to complete assembly of the lid with the top panels fully closed. When the lid is applied to a carton, the folded gusset members are held in place to maintain 15 the lid in the closed condition. The gusset members each include a central rectangular cut out portion and the cut-crease lines extend to the lower corners of these cutout portions to define a truncated end of the gusset members when in the fully folded condition. The dimensions of the cutout portions 20 are selected so that the folded gusset members extend to the lower edge of the opposed side panels. Brief Description of the Drawings 25 Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described, by way of non limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a lid embodying the invention may be formed; 30 Figure 2 illustrates the blank glued in the form of a flattened sleeve; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the flattened sleeve formed into an open top sleeve; C>NRPorbl\DCC\RIC\44H61_ I DOC-.15/06/2012 -3 Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the closing of the top panels by folding of the gusset members; and Figure 7 illustrates a fully assembled lid with the gusset members folded against opposed sides of the lid. 5 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Referring firstly to Figures I and 2 of the drawings, the blank I of corrugated cardboard or the like comprises long side panels 2 and 3 and short side panels 4 and 5 defined by folding scores which further define top panels 6 and 7 above the long side panels 2 and 3 10 and folding gusset members 8 and 9 above the short side panels 4 and 5. At one end of the blank 1, a glue lap 10 is defined by a folding score 11. The folding gusset members 8 and 9 include rectangular cutouts 12 and 13, from the corners of which cut-crease lines 14 extend to the adjacent corners of the short side panels 4 and 5, as illustrated in Figure 1. 15 When the glue lap 10 is glued to the opposite end of the blank and the blank is folded along the folding score 11 and along the scores between the panels 3, 5, 7 and 9, a flattened tubular blank as illustrated in Figure 2 is formed. This disassembled form of the lid is then ready for delivery to the customer who assembles the lid by hand, initially as an open topped rectangular sleeve as illustrated in Figure 3 and following progressive folding of the 20 gusset members 8 and 9, the top panels 6 and 7 are drawn towards their closed positions, as illustrated in Figures 4 to 6. Final folding of the gusset members 8 and 9 against the short side panels 4 and 5 causes the cut-crease lines 14 to snap the gusset members against the side panels 4 and 5, as illustrated in Figure 7. The completed lid is then applied to a carton to retain the gusset members 8 and 9 in that position to maintain the top panels in their 25 fully closed positions. Following delivery of a carton closed by the lid, the lid is easily disassembled to the flattened condition illustrated in Figure 2 to enable its easy disposal for recycling. 30 It will be appreciated from the above that the lid embodying the invention saves assembly time and disassembly time for recycling, the partly assembled lid as illustrated in Figure 2 C\NRPftbl\DCC\RJC440J161_I DOC-15tm/2012 -4 being able to be produced in a single pass through a gluing machine thereby saving production costs as well. The container lid is preferably made of RFlut eTM (also known as TFluteT

M

) material. 5 RFlutelr is a thin type of corrugated fluting, designed for shelf ready packaging, wraparounds for self supporting packs and frozen food packaging. Compared to the current industry standard B flute, RFluteTM has corrugated flutes that are smaller and closer. Advantageously, RFluteTM has the following qualities: 10 . Improved printing surface provides a higher quality post print * More precise, cleaner diecutting . Less waste in the manufacturing process . Better product containment and protection for self-supporting products 0 Improved shelf ready packaging results 15 - Up to 25% more boxes can fit on a pallet providing both supply chain and environmental benefits The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or 20 admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires 25 otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (7)

1. A container lid having side panels and top panels, the top panels including folding gusset members at each end which are configured to fold against opposed side walls to 5 hold the top panels closed, the gusset members in use being held against the opposed side panels by engagement with a carton closed by the lid.

2. The lid of claim 1, wherein the gusset members are defined by angular cut-crease lines extending from corners of the opposed side panels to an edge of the gusset members, 10 the cut-crease lines operating to snap the gusset members towards the opposed side panels as assembly of the lid is completed.

3. The lid of claim I or 2, wherein the lid is formed from a blank which is glued to form a flattened sleeve, the side panels and top panels being defined by fold lines, and the 15 gusset members being defined by the angular cut-crease lines.

4. The lid of claim 3, wherein the blank is glued across the whole width of the blank.

5. The lid of any preceding claim, wherein the gusset members each include a central 20 rectangular cut out portion and the cut-crease lines extend to the lower corners of these cutout portions to define a truncated end of the gusset members when in the fully folded condition.

6. The lid of claim 5, wherein the dimensions of the cutout portions are selected so 25 that the folded gusset members extend to the lower edge of the opposed side panels.

7. The lid claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein the container lid is made of RFlute-m 30 7. A carton lid substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.