AU2012211400A1 - A container - Google Patents

Abstract

MH508943AUPR9 A blank I for a container base (see Figure 1) includes end panels 2 and side panels 3 and minor end corner flaps 4. Each of the corner flaps 4 includes a diagonal crease 5 which in the 5 assembled base will create a grip tab, (8), unglued in the erected base and which, when the container is to be disassembled, can be pulled back to enable the breaking of the glue seal over the rest of the corner flap 4. 2 t 6

Description

302792750 MHS SS43AUPR A CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 5 The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to containers and more particularly, but not exclusively, to meat cartons. The present invention will be described particularly in respect of meat cartons but it will be appreciated by those with experience in the packaging industry that the present application would be useful in its various embodiments in respect of various other containers for other produce, including for fruit or the like. 10 In the packaging of frozen or chilled meat, whether or not inner liners are used for the containers, various problems may arise in respect of the opening or lifting of containers. Also, where glue sealing is used to secure the case together, or to secure the lid to the case, 15 particular problems may arise in respect of the opening of the containers. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention in its various embodiments to overcome or at least 20 alleviate such problems individually or collectively, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice. Further objects of the invention may become apparent from the following description. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention a container base and/or blank therefor, includes a plurality of corner flaps substantially glued or adapted to be substantially glued to a respective wall of the base and further includes a crease across a corner of each flap to 30 facilitate, in use, an unglued portion of the corner to be pulled back in breaking a glue seal over a remainder of the flap and to facilitate the pulling apart of the base. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container base and/or blank therefor, which includes a plurality of corner flaps at least substantially secured or adapted 35 to be at least substantially secured to a respective wall of the base, each of said flaps including 302792750 MH50943AIPR 2 a respective slot provided in a substantially vertical, in use, edge, said slots in an erected base providing finger grips to facilitate, in use, the handling of the base. According to a third aspect of the present invention a container lid and/or blank therefor includes 5 an upper, in use, main lid portion having a plurality of walls which in use will be glued, or are adapted to be glued, to the respective walls of a container base, said main lid portion including a. fold line crease extending between an opposite pair of side walls and adjacent a rear wall so that once a glued securement with the container base of a front wall, and or a front portion of the side walls, has been broken, the lid will be able to pivot upwardly about the fold line crease 10 in allowing access to the contents within the container base. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a tool for breaking a glue seal holding portions of a container together includes a gripping portion having along one edge a projecting portion, a cutting means provided for said projecting portion to extend across a face of the 15 gripping portion, and spaced apart therefrom, to provide a gap therebetween, the arrangement being such that the cutting means can, in use, be inserted between two glued portions of the container, with one portion accommodated in the gap, and the tool moved relative to the portions in breaking the glue seal therebetween. 20 According to a still further aspect of the present invention, embodiments thereof are substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or 1, 2 and 3 or 4 and 5 or 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. Further aspects of this invention, which should be considered in all its novel aspects, will 25 become apparent from the following description, given by way of example of possible embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 30 Figure 1: shows a blank of a container base according to one possible embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: shows very diagrammatically part of a container base formed from the blank of Figure 1; 35 302792750 M584AUPR3 Figure 3: shows a blank of a container base according to a further possible embodiment of the invention; Figure 4: shows a blank of a container lid according to a further possible embodiment of 5 the invention; Figure 5: shows very diagrammatically part of a container including a container lid formed from the blank of Figure 4; 10 Figure 6: shows a side view of a tool for breaking the glue seals of a container and according to a still further possible embodiment of the invention; Figure 7: shows a front view of the tool of Figure 6. 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In the construction of bases for containers manufactured of corrugated board, the corner flaps will be glued to the end or side walls so that when the base needs to be disassembled or pulled apart to access the contents of the base, the glue seals need to be broken. This applies .0 particularly where the base contains frozen meat, the conventional plastic bag containing the meat has been omitted, and an impervious HDPE, PET, or other, coating has been applied directly to the corrugated substrate of the base. Because of the strength of the glue seals, this disassembly of the base can prove difficult and time consuming. Referring therefore to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a blank for a container base is referenced generally by arrow 1. 25 It is shown with the usual end panels 2 and side panels 3, (these terms being used throughout the specification interchangeably so that an end panel could be a side panel and vice versa), and minor end corner flaps 4. The panels 2 and 3 in the erected base, such as shown in Figure 2, will form the end and side walls. 30 The terms "panels" and "walls" are therefore used throughout the specification interchangeably and have the same meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Each of the minor end flaps 4 is shown provided with a corner crease 5. Each inner corner between the minor end flaps and major end flap 2 may also include a web portion 6. The 35 crease 5 may take any suitable form, identifying the corner area of the flap 4 which in the 302M9750 M584AUPR4 erected base is to remain unglued. Preferably, however, it is provided by a line or area of the flap 4 which has been adapted to fold. In assembling the container base 7, as shown when assembled very diagrammatically in Figure 5 2, a vertical glue bead may be used to seal the small web 6, in the corner between the minor end flaps 4 and the major end panels or flaps 2, to create a leak proof feature. The major end flap 2 will also be glued tightly against the side panels 3 so as to close any gap, and create a clean surface on all the walls of the container 7 formed by the panels, with no flute ends exposed. 10 However, in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, in the erected base 7 the diagonal crease 5 has created a grip tab 8, an unglued area, being a minor portion of the end flap 4, having been left beneath that tab 8 for that purpose. When the container 7 is to be disassembled in emptying out its contents, the tab 8 can be pulled back, enabling the breaking 15 of the glue seal over the rest of the corner flap 4 and to facilitate the pulling part of the base 7. Turning then to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, the blank 20 for a container base includes minor end flaps 21 provided for the side panels 22 or end panels 23, these terms again being used interchangeably. Again a small web 24 may be provided at the inner corners of the 20 minor flaps 21 so as to provide a leak proof feature in the assembled base. However, in accordance with this further embodiment of the invention, each of the minor end flaps 21 is shown provided with a slot or groove 25. In the assembled base, (not shown), each of these slots or grooves 25 will provide, in a substantially vertical edge, a finger grip to facilitate the manual handling of the container. This is of particular importance when the lid is machine-glued 25 on and conventional straps are not used to retain a slipped-on lid. When lid retaining straps are applied, they cause some damage to the carton edges and, when also used as pick-up handles, this results in deformation and considerable damage to the pack strength integrity. Such slots or grooves 25 may also be provided in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. 30 Referring then to Figures 4 and 5, a blank for a lid is referenced generally by arrow 30 in Figure 4 and the assembled lid referenced generally by arrow 31 in the assembly drawing of Figure 5. Referring specifically to Figure 4 the lid 30 is shown with rear wall panels 32 and side wall panels 33 (these terms being used again interchangeably) and minor end corner flaps 34. A fold line crease 35 is however shown provided extending adjacent, in the particular embodiment 35 illustrated, the rear panel wall 32, running lengthwise between the side wall panels 33, and with perforations, weakening, nicked slits or the like 36 provided for the end flanges 37.

302792750 MHSOB943AUPR 5 Turning then to Figure 5, it is seen that once the glue seal between the lid 31 and the container base 38 has been broken at the front wall (not shown) and/or the front portions of the side walls, the lid 31 is able to open upwardly, the sidewall breaking apart from the perforation, weakening, 5 slits or the like 36 to hinge or pivot about the fold line crease 35 and enabling access to the contents of the container base 38. To facilitate the breaking of the glue seal along both sides and the front of the lid 31, suitably full glue beads will be provided along the rear wall 32 but with fewer glue beads provided for the 10 front and/or sides so as to facilitate those being broken more easily for the lid 31 to be opened. Turning then to Figures 6 and 7, a tool referenced generally by arrow 40 includes a body portion 41 having along a lower edge a projecting or ledge portion 42 provided for which is a suitable cutting means such as a blade 43 with a gap 44 thereby defined between the rear surface of the 15 blade or the like 43 and a front surface of the body 41. In the example of a container shown in Figure 5, for example, the blade 43 can be inserted between the walls of the lid 31 and the walls of the base 38 to which they are glued, with the lid wall accommodated in the gap 44. The tool 40 can then be moved along the walls of the lid 31 in breaking the glue seals connecting it with the base 38. !0 In the example shown, the body 41 may suitably be of some rigid material such as plastics, metal or wood, and the blade or other cutting means 43 may be secured thereto such as by rivets or the like 45. It is envisaged that the blade 43 may have a serrated edge to facilitate cutting. 25 Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. In particular, the terms "glued" and "glue" and the like are intended to include any suitable alternative means of securement. 30 Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 35

Claims (15)

1. A container base and/or blank therefor, includes a plurality of corner flaps substantially glued or adapted to be substantially glued to a respective wall of the base, and further 5 includes a crease across a corner of each flap to facilitate, in use, an unglued portion of the corner to be pulled back in breaking a glue seal over a remainder of the flap and to facilitate the pulling apart of the base.

2. A container base and/or blank therefor as claimed in claim 1 and including a pair of 10 opposite side walls and a pair of opposite end walls and each said corner flap is provided at an opposite end of a respective side wall.

3. A container base and/or blank therefor as claimed in claim I including a pair of opposite end walls and a pair of opposite side walls and wherein each said corner flap is provided 15 at an opposite end of a respective end wall.

4. A container base and/or blank therefor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a web provided in an inner corner between a corner flap and a respective end wall or side wall thereby enabling the provision of a leak-proof feature in an erected 20 base.

5. A container base and/or blank therefor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each said corner flap includes a major portion which, in use, is glued to a respective wall of the base and the said crease defines a minor portion of the respective 25 corner flap which, in use, provides said unglued portion.

6. A container base and/or blank therefor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the said crease is substantially diagonal, extending across an outer corner of a respective corner flap. 30

7. A container base and/or blank therefor as claimed in claim 6 in which said outer corner of said corner flap defines, in use, a grip tab adapted to be held in pulling apart an erected base. 3027927507 MH5894AUPR

8. A container base and/or blank therefor in which said corner flaps further include a respective slot provided in a substantially vertical, in use, edge, said slots in an erected base providing finger grips to facilitate, in use, the handling of the base. 5

9. A container base and/or blank therefor which includes a plurality of corner flaps, at least substantially secured or adapted to be at least substantially secured to a respective wall of the base, each of said flaps including a respective slot provided in a substantially vertical, in use, edge, said slots an erected base providing finger grips to facilitate, in use, the handling of the base. 10

10. A container lid and/or blank therefor including an upper, in use, main lid portion having a plurality of walls which, in use, will be glued, or are adapted to be glued, to the respective walls of the container base, said main lid portion including a fold line crease extending between an opposite pair of side walls and adjacent a rear wall so that once a 15 glued securement with the container base of a front wall, and/or a front portion of the of side walls, has been broken, the lid will be able to pivot upwardly about the fold line crease in allowing access to the contents within the container base.

11. A tool for breaking a glue seal holding portions of a container together including a 20 gripping portion having along one edge a projecting portion, a cutting means provided for said projecting portion to extend across a face of the gripping portion and spaced apart therefrom to provide a gap therebetween, the arrangement being such that the cutting means can, in use, be inserted between two glued portions of the container, with one portion accommodated in the gap, and the tool moved relative to the portions in breaking 25 the glue seal therebetween.

12. A container base and/or blank therefor substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. 30

13. A container base and/or blank therefor substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A container lid and/or blank therefor substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. 35 302792750 MH084AUPR8

15. A tool for breaking a glue seal holding portions of a container together, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings.