AU665592B2

AU665592B2 - Bevel corner carton for beverage containers

Info

Publication number: AU665592B2
Application number: AU29771/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: James R. Oliff; Prentice J. Wood
Original assignee: Mead Corp
Current assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date: 1992-04-29
Filing date: 1992-11-30
Publication date: 1996-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-30
Also published as: NZ245299A; CA2067539C; AU2977192A; CA2067539A1

Description

a err t a S F Ref: 226284

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 56592 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: The Mead Corporation Courthouse Plaza, Northeast Dayton Ohio 45463 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Prentice J. Wood and James R. Oliff Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Bevel Corner Carton For Beverage Containers we Invention Title: 1444cl 444 14i The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845/3 D-2669 BEVEL CORNER CARTON FOR BEVERAGE CONTAINERS The present invention relates generally to paperboard cartons used to package beverage containers such as glass bottles. More particularly, the invention relates to such cartons having beveled corners, with forming flaps being provided to assist in proper positioning of the beveled corners during carton erection.

It is common to package multiple, cylindrical beverage containers such as bottles or cans in paperboard 10 sleeve-type cartons. Such cartons include interconnected top, bottom and side walls, with the cartons loaded by moving the beverage containers into the carton through one or both of the open carton ends. An end flap arrangement is typically provided at each end of the carton to close the carton ends, thereby securing the beverage containers inside.

One style of such beverage carton includes corners having beveled panels. Such panels can provide a unique appearance to the carton, and more closely conform to the configuration of the beverage containers positioned in the 0 carton corners. This can produce the advantages of a tighter i" .5 fitting carton and reduced damage to the carton corners during shipment and handling.

An example of a bevel corner carton may be seen in Canadian patent No. 1,097,284. In this case, the carton includes end flaps connected to both the side walls and the top and bottom walls of the carton sleeve, with the bevel panels formed in the end flaps connected to the side walls.

Adjacent end flaps are interconnected by web corner panels, the interconnections assisting in the manipulation of the -2carton flaps for closure. In the disclosed carton, however, the end flaps attached to the carton side walls and containing the bevelled panels do not completely close the carton end, the width of such flaps is less than the width of the carton end. In a case where it is desired to have both the side end flaps and the top and bottom end flaps completely close the carton end, thereby forming a two-ply end closure structure, the interconnection by web panels of adjacent end flaps may make it more difficult to manipulate the end flaps during closure. At the same time, elimination of the web panels also makes positioning of the first-folded pair of end flaps difficult, there is nothing to force folding of the bevel panels or to secure such flaps in position until the second pair of flaps is folded and glued. This can result in misalignment or improper positioning of the end flaps.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a carton comprising: a bottom wall, a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said bottom wall, and a top wall foldably joined along the side edges thereof respectively to the upper edges of said side walls, said side walls being disposed perpendicular to said top and bottom walls to form a sleeve; said top wall defining a pair of end edges, at least one of said end edges having a main portion and an end portion connecting said main portion with one of said side edges of said top wall, said end portion forming an angle with respect to said main portion of between 900 and 1800; a first end flap foldably joined along a first fold line to an end edge of said side wall, a second fold line being disposed in said first end flap generally parallel to and spaced from said first fold line to define a bevel panel between said first and second fold lines; t

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said bevel panel being disposed generally adjacent and parallel to said end portion of said end edge of said top wall, and the remaining portion of said first end flap being disposed generally perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve; 0

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-7 -3an upper end flap foldably connected to said main portion of said end edge of said top wall and disposed generally perpendicular to said axis of said sleeve and in overlapping relationship with said remaining portion of said first end flap; and a forming flap foldably connected to said end portion of said end edge of said top wall and extending downwardly therefrom to a free end, said forming flap being disposed substantially adjacent to the inner surface of said bevel panel.

There is further disclosed herein a blank for forming a carton as described above, said blank comprising: a portion for forming said bottom wall; portions for forming said pair of side walls, said side wall portions foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said bottom wall portion; a portion for forming said top wall foldably joined along one side edge thereof to an edge opposite said bottom wall portion of one of said side wall portions; a portion for forming a glue flap joined to the opposite side edge of said top wall portion; portions for forming said end flaps foldably joined to each end edge of said side wall portions along first fold lines and a second fold line disposed in at least one of said end flap portions and generally parallel to said first fold line to define a portion for forming said bevel panel between said first and second fold lines, said top wall portion defining a pair of end edges, at least one of said end edges having a main portion and an end portion connecting said main portion with one of said side edges of said top wall portion, said end portion adapted for being disposed adjacent a top edge of said bevel panel portion and adapted for forming an angle with said main portion of between 900 and 1800; iii t C CI C C

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a portion for forming each forming flap foldably connected to the respective end portion and extending outwardly therefrom to a free end; and A portion for forming an upper end flap foldably connected to said main portion of said end edge of said top wall portion, each forming flap portion being

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-4disposed between said upper end flap portion and one of said end flap portions joined to t said side wall portions.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled carton in accordance with the present invention, showing one end and one side of the carton; Fig. 2 is a top view of a blank used to form the carton shown in Fig. 1; and Figs. 3-6 are a sequence of views similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating the folding of the end flaps in order to close the carton.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a carton for packaging a plurality of beverage bottles is shown. The c, rton includes a side wall 10 and an end structure 12. An identical side wall and end structure form the opposite side of the carton (not shown), and closure of the carton is completed by top and bottom walls (not shown). Side wall and end structure 12 are connected by a bevel panel 14, a similar bevel panel 16 connecting end structure 12 and the unseen, opposite side wall. Handle means 18 is formed in the end structure 12 of the carton. An identical handle means (not shown) is 1: formed in the opposite end structure.

tf The blank for forming the carton is shown in Fig. 2. Side wall 10 is connected along fold line 20 at its upper edge Ct r 4z C C C 44 I t Q4

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-EI D-2669 to top wall 22, and by fold line 24 along its bottom edge to bottom panel 26. Top wall 22 is connected by a fold line 28 to glue flap 30. Bottom wall 26 is connected at its opposite side edge along fold line 32 to side wall 34.

Side wall 10 is connected along fold line 36 to an end flap 38 which includes an additional fold line generally parallel to the fold line 36. Bevel panel 14 is defined between the fold lines 36 and 40 with the remaining portion 42 of end flap 38 including a handle opening 44 formed therein. The opening 44 is closed by a handle flap structure 46. At the opposite end of side wall 10, an end flap 48 is connected along fold line 50. An additional fold line 52 defines a bevel panel 54 between the fold lines 50 and 52.

The remaining portion 56 of end flap 48 includes a handle opening 58, which is covered by handle flap structure Opposing side wall 34 has an end flap 62 attached along a fold line 64. Fold line 66 defines a bevel panel 68 between fold lines 64 and 66. A partial handle opening 70, covered by a partial handle flap structure 72, is formed in the remaining portion 74 of end flap 62. Likewise, end flap 76 is connected to the opposite side edge of side wall 34 along fold line 78.

Fold line 80 defines a bevel panel 82 between fold lines 78 and 80. A partial handle opening 84, closed by a partial handle flap structure 86 is formed in the portion 88 of end flap 76.

Bottom wall 26 includes a pair of end edges extending between fold lines 24 and 32. Each end edge includes a main portion defined by fold lines 90 and 92.

Lower end flaps 94 and 96 are connected to bottom wall 26 by fold lines 90 and 92 respectively. Each end edge further includes bevel end portions 98. The bevel end portions 98 D-2669 -6each form an angle with respect to the fold lines 90 or 92 of between 90" and 180'.

Top wall 22, in addition to fold lines 20 and 23 is bounded by end edges, each including a main portion comprising fold lines 100 and 102 respectively. Extending from the end of each main portion 100 and 102 to the adjacent fold line or 28 is an end portion comprising fold line 104. Connected to fold line 100 is an upper end flap 106, having formed therein a handle opening 108 closed by a handle flap structure t '10 110. Similarly, an upper end flap 112 is connected to top I panel 22 by fold line 102. Formed in upper end panel 112 is a handle opening 114 closed by handle flap structure 116.

€-4 Also connected to top panel 22, along fold lines 104, is a plurality of forming flaps 118, 120, 122 and 124.

Forming flaps 118 and 122 are positioned along the blank 4 between end panels 38 and 106, and end panels 48 and 112, respectively. Forming flaps 120 and 124 are positioned at the end of the blank, adjacent end panels 106 and 112 rr respectively.

Closure of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 2 A ,c 4 can be seen by reference to FIGS. 3-6. As shown in FIG. 3, the blank is initially connected to form a tube by securing glue flap 30 to the inner surface at the top of side wall 34.

Next, beverage bottles or cans are loaded using conventional, known machinery through each open end of the carton shown in FIG. 3. The beverage containers have been omitted from the drawings for clarity, in order that the various portions of the carton may be more easily seen. An example of machinery suitable for loading the disclosed carton is described in U.S.

patent No. 4,237,673.

I1 1 D-2669 -7 In closing the end structure, forming flaps 118 and 120 are folded downwardly about fold lines 104 as shown in FIG. 3. (While not illustrated herein, an identical operation is performed in closing the opposite end of the carton.) Referring next to FIG. 4, end panel 38 is folded into position by bending about fold lines 36 and 40. This bending further positions the bevel panel 14 in its proper location. During such operation, forming flap 118 is disposed behind the upper end of bevel panel 14, thereby properly 10 locating the bevel panel and forcing the end panel to properly fold about fold lines 36 and 40. Moreover, it will also be I appreciated that upon completion of the carton, forming flap 118 will retain bevel panel 14 in the proper position and will resist movement of the bevel panel 14 in an inward direction with respect to the carton, which could otherwise be caused during shipping and handling.

Referring to FIG. 5, a similar operation is performed with end flap 62. The end flap is moved into position by bending about fold lines 64 and 66, thereby moving bevel panel 16 to the proper location. Following such 114, folding, forming flap 120 is disposed behind the upper end of bevel panel 16, thereby properly locating the panel. End flap 62 is secured to end flap 38 by gluing.

Completion of the carton closure can be seen by reference to FIG. 6. Upper end flap 106 is folded downwardly about fold line 100, while lower end flap 94 is folded upwardly about fold line 90. Upper and lower end. flaps 106 and 94 are secured in position by gluing to end flaps 38 and 62.

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rrr D-2669 -8- It will be recognized that if desired, forming flaps similar to flaps 118, 120, 122 and 124 may be provided along rtr 4 4 i t ii I sil ttl i 1 2Lt k

Claims

1. A carton comprising: a bottom wall, a pair of side walls foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said bottom wall, and a top wall foldably joined along the side edges thereof respectively to the upper edges of said side walls, said side walls being disposed perpendicular to said top and bottom walls to form a sleeve; said top wall defining a pair of end edges, at least one of said end edges having a main portion and an el portion connecting said main portion with one of said sidC edges of said top wall, said end portion formin, an angle with respect to said main portion of between 900 and 1800; a first end flap foldably joined along a first fold line to an end edge of said side wall, a second fold line being disposed in said first end flap generally parallel to and spaced from said first fold line to define a bevel panel between said first and second fold lines; said bevel panel being disposed generally adjacent and parallel to said end portion of said end edge of said top wall, and the remaining portion of said first end flap being disposed generally perpendicular to the axis of said sleeve; an upper end flap foldably connect,. to said main portion of said end edge of said top wall and disposed generally perpendicular to said axis of said sleeve and in overlapping relationship with said remaining portion of said first end flap; and a forming flap foldably connected to said end portion of said end edge of said el"| top wall and extending downwardly therefrom to a free end, said forming flap being Sdisposed substantially adjacent to the inner surface of said bevel panel. 4 L,2. A blank for forming a carton as defined in claim 1, said blank comprising: a portion for forming said bottom wall; portions for forming said pair of side walls, said side wall portions foldably joined respectively to the side edges of said bottom wall portion; t a portion for forming said top wall foldably joined along one side edge thereof to an edge opposite said bottom wall portion of one of said side wall portions; portion for forming a glue flap joined to the opposite side edge of said top wall portion; 4 portions for forming said end flaps foldably joined to each end edge of said side wall portions along first fold lines and a second fold line disposed in at least one of said end flap portions and generally parallel to said first fold line to define a portion for forming said bevel panel between said first and second fold lines, said top wall portion defining a pair of end edges, at least one of said end edges having a main portion and an end portion connecting said main portion with one of said side edges of said top wall S 'b portion, said end portion adapted for being disposed adjacent a top edge of said bevel 4Z: panel portion and adapted for forming an angle with said main portion of between and 180°; a portion for forming each forming flap foldably connected to the respective end portion and extending outwardly therefrom to a free end; and A portion for forming an upper end flap foldably connected to said main portion of said end edge of said top wall portion, each forming flap portion being disposed between said upper end flap portion and one of said end flap portions joined to said side wall portions. j 3. A blank for a carton, said blank being substantially as hereinbefore 1 10 described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. A carton formed from a blank as defined in claim 2 or 3. A carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this Second Day of November 1995 The Mead Corporation Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON i i I'trc *a t- 1 Bevel Corner Carton For Beverage Containers Abstract of the Disclosure A carton comprises a bottom wall a pair of side walls (10,34) foldably joined respectively to the side edges (24,32) of the bottom wall a top wall (22) foldably joined along the side edges (20,28) thereof respectively to the upper edges of the side walls, the side walls (10,34) being disposed perpendicular to the top and bottom walls (22,26) to form a sleeve. An end flap (38,48,62,76) is foldably joined to each end (36,50,64,78) of the side walls (10,34), with at least a portion of each of the end flaps (38,48,62,76) being disposed perpendicular to the major axis of the sleeve. A first fold line (36,52,64,78) is disposed between each end flap (38,48,62,76) and the associated one of the side walls (10,34). A second fold line (40,52,66,80) is disposed in at least one of the end flaps (38,48,62,76) and is generally parallel to the first 0000 S 15 fold line (36,52,64,78) to define a bevel panel (14) between the first and second fold lines. The top wall defines a pair of end edges (100,102), at least one of the end edges having a main portion (100,102) and an end portion (104) connecting the main portion with one of the side uo oedges of the top wall The end portion (104) is disposed adjacent a 0 20 top edge of the bevel panel (14) and forms an angle with the main portion of between 90 and 1800. A forming flap (118,120,122,124) is o 00 foldably connected to the end portion and extends downwardly therefrom, 0I Oji O substantially adjacent to the inner surface of the bevel panel (14). Si Figure 2 0C II i IP MOC/1630U